Towards personal data services: a view on some enabling factors

Data are increasingly considered the fuel of our economies. However, only a small share of organisations, including governments, are in the position of collecting and analysing large amounts of data. Emerging models allow individuals to reconstruct their digital footprint and benefit from customised services based on personal data. For instance, smart disclosure is defined as "the timely release of complex information and data in standardised, machine readable formats in ways that enable consumers to make informed decisions". In this paper, we compare data access trends enabled or directly promoted by governments and describe examples of personal data services based on smart disclosure initiatives, in particular green button in the USA, applied to energy consumption. In light of the analysis, we identify five enabling factors for the further creation and adoption of personal data services: trusted architectures, data interoperability, friendly regulation, market incentives and availability of complementary open data by governments.