The Open Data Institute (ODI) has published a new European Data and AI policy manifesto to support the development of AI that serves the whole of society in the European Union (EU), informed by the ODI’s interest in related policy on an international level.
The manifesto is designed to support policymakers and regulators as they navigate complex digital reforms, including the upcoming review of the EU’s digital acquis and the staged introduction of the EU AI Act. The ODI previously launched a manifesto in March 2024 for data and AI policy in the UK, which was updated in September 2024 following the UK general election.
The ODI’s EU manifesto calls for a joined-up approach to regulation that protects rights, builds trust, and supports innovation across all parts of society. It offers timely, actionable ideas and recommendations for policymakers, regulators, and civil society organisations.
Prof Elena Simperl, Director of Research at the ODI, said: “The EU has a unique opportunity to shape a global model of digital governance that puts people first. The ODI’s European Data and AI Policy Manifesto offers practical guidance for policymakers to build a trusted, transparent, and inclusive data ecosystem that supports innovation in the age of AI while protecting democratic values. This can only be achieved through a robust open data-infrastructure, fostering trust through inclusive participation and effective assurance mechanisms, including independent oversight.”
The manifesto draws on the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass and the Draghi report, both of which emphasise the need for more integrated, strategic investment in Europe’s digital infrastructure. The ODI presents the review of the digital acquis as an opportunity to improve alignment, reduce complexity, and make legislation easier to apply in practice.
While the ODI is headquartered in London, it has always taken a keen interest in policy globally, and European examples of this are:
· The ODI participated in three of the four working groups involved in developing the EU’s General-Purpose AI Code of Practice, submitting feedback on the Code and contributing to previous consultations. · A recent ODI project looked at the secondary use of health data across Europe. · From 2017-2020, the ODI delivered Data Pitch, an open-innovation programme funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 that explored how data shared by large organisations could be used by startups to tackle specific company and sector challenges.
· The ODI is a member of the Big Data Value Association, an industry-driven members association with the mission to promote European innovation in the data and AI ecosystem.
The ODI European Data and AI policy manifesto comprises six principles for building a responsible and resilient data ecosystem:
Principle 1: Strong data infrastructure
· Innovation and competitiveness must go hand in hand with regulation that protects people, their data, and public trust. This requires a future-proof legislative and regulatory regime centred on people and society as well as economic competitiveness. Central to this is a strong data governance framework that ensures interoperability and supports AI development while protecting citizens’ rights and European values.
Principle 2: Open data as a foundation
· A strong data ecosystem spans open, shared, and closed data. Open data, maintained as a public asset, offers the most solid foundation. The Commission and the European AI Office should explore ways to expand access to data for AI training through regulatory sandboxes, incentives, and improved stewardship of public data. Data sharing should be incentivised for organisations that voluntarily share data for the benefit of society.
Principle 3: Trust
· For data to work for everyone, it needs to work across borders – geographic, organisational, economic, cultural, and political. There needs to be a participatory approach that empowers people to influence how data is used to serve society, the economy, and the environment.
Principle 4: Trusted, independent organisations
· Civil society and independent organisations play a critical role in ensuring data works for all. To do so effectively and ethically, they need sustainable funding to support public benefit, challenge misuse, and scrutinise how data, including AI, is deployed.
Principle 5: A diverse, equitable, and inclusive data ecosystem
· To limit bias, inequality, and power imbalances, broader access to data, infrastructure, and skills is essential. This is particularly true when developing AI applications in high-impact areas such as climate, misinformation, and public health. It's also vital that SMEs and start-ups, which are often excluded from large datasets, are supported through initiatives like AI Factories and their Data Labs referenced in the AI Continent Action Plan.
Principle 6: Data knowledge and skills
· What is needed are leaders and citizens who understand how data is used, its risks, and its benefits. Public data literacy must be increased, especially among underrepresented groups, so that broader participation can be ensured, avoiding further exclusion from decisions driven by data and AI.
Download the Manifesto The ODI European Data and AI Policy Manifesto is available in full at: European Data and AI Policy Manifesto
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