Data governance for smart cities in China: the case of Shenzhen

Abstract

Establishing an appropriate system for governing various data is a critical challenge in developing smart cities. In China, with its distinctive institutional characteristics, it is not yet well investigated what kinds of data governance mechanisms are introduced, how data are collected, shared, and used, and how potential risks concerning data security and privacy are addressed. This paper conducts an exploratory study of the case of smart city development in Shenzhen and examines critical opportunities and challenges in data governance. A centralized approach led by the government has been emphasized in data governance, with its focus evolving from addressing the fragmentation of government data to fostering the integration of various kinds of data in society. Open data platforms have been developed through close cooperation between government and technology enterprises. Regulations have been introduced to protect data security and privacy and facilitate the exchange and use of data for innovation. On the other hand, stakeholders are not sufficiently incentivized to provide accurate information. The value of data is not appropriately recognized or measured, discouraging the sharing of data to facilitate the use of data. Citizens are not well-informed about what kinds of data are collected and how these data are used. Institutional mechanisms have not yet been established to ensure that the data collected from citizens are properly handled by the public authorities. It is crucial to encourage citizens’ engagement in data governance to fully implement the people-centered approach to smart city development.