Digital Jersey has formed the first data trust under Jersey Trust Law. The idea is to store personal data in a trust so that it can be protected, controlled, and shared in line with the terms of the trust, all while adhering to the strict regulations governing personal data handling.
How does Digital Jersey’s data trust work?
Jersey cyclists will use custom bike light sensors to capture data, which will then be stored in the trust to test the data trust concept. While the pilot’s major goal is to assess whether or not it is possible to employ a trust structure to investigate the concept of data stewardship, it also aims to produce relevant data and intelligence about safe cycling. The next step for Digital Jersey is to find interested cyclists to join the team.
The Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner (JOIC) and Jersey’s financial sector have collaborated on the pilot project, with Appleby and JTC Law advising on the trust’s setup and local fiduciary firms ICECAP and JTC administering the trust’s data. Calligo, Defence Logic, and PropelFwd have all contributed to IT and technical support.
“This is a ground-breaking project that brings together two of Jersey’s great strengths – digital innovation and its experience in trust administration. Data as a commodity is becoming more and more valuable, and organisations and governments are increasingly needing to find independent, robust ways to manage, store, protect and share their data effectively.
This pilot will look at how holding data as an asset in a trust works in practice and explore how Jersey could play a leading role in responsible data stewardship.”
-Regius Professor of Computer Science and Digital Jersey Non-Executive Director, Dame Wendy Hall
Learn more about the data trust here.