Contributed article - Defining & measuring trust in data transaction

Dawex contribution to the Gaia-X Magazine December 2024 on "Defining & measuring trust in data transactions"

The European Commission and global leading organizations are currently defining what is a Trusted Data Transaction, to ultimately establish a standard from the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).

The CEN workshop on Trusted Data Transaction is a pre-standardization contribution-based initiative co-proposed in 2023 by Dawex, Fraunhofer ISST and TNO, gathering active representatives from the European Commission, Gaia-X, IDSA, BDVA, Fiware Foundation, Microsoft, Agdatahub, Hub One, SQS, Connekt, and recently joined by Airbus and EDF for part 2 of the workshop.

During a 15 month process, workshop participants, coming from the associative, corporate and institutional world, collectively created, agreed upon and signed a first CWA on Trusted Data Transaction (CEN Workshop Agreement - Part 1). Published in the summer 2024, the Agreement defines the objectives, scope and deliverables of the workshop, provides terminology, key concepts and mechanisms around the notion of trusted data transaction. This is a crucial step as it sets the foundation for defining the characteristics of trust in a data transaction and the criteria to measure it.

Why is this initiative on Trusted Data Transaction important ?

• It directly contributes to the building of the European Trusted Data Framework, one of the top three policy priorities, out of 72 actions listed, in the 2024 annual Union work programme for European standardization. The EU Trusted Data Framework encompasses a comprehensive set of standards, practices, and rules to ensure trusted, legally compliant data sharing across parties, including Data Intermediaries and altruism organizations.
  
  
• It provides a concrete response to the recommendation made by the High-Level Forum on European standardization, a multi-stakeholder group chaired by former Commissioner Thierry Breton, to initiate the development of a harmonized European standard for trusted data transactions.
  
  

It aligns with key provisions of the Data Act, which stipulates that the European Commission shall request one or more European standardization organizations to draft harmonized standards that satisfy the essential requirements laid down in Article 33 of the Data Act. These requirements address the interoperability of data, data sharing mechanisms and services, as well as of common European data spaces. Participants in data spaces offering data or data services, such as data intermediaries, that meet these harmonized standards shall be presumed to be in conformity with these essential requirements. 

The CEN Workshop on Trusted Data Transaction will accelerate and prepare for such standards, and facilitate compliance of data space participants. The CWA on Trusted Data Transaction will be used as the main input to support the Standardization Request on Trusted Data Transaction, issued by the European Commission, currently in the drafting phase, that will lead to a harmonized European Standard.

This marks an important milestone in the ongoing efforts towards standardization in Data Exchange, creating trust and observability for Data Transactions.

Discussions for part 2 of the Workshop focused on the definition of the characteristics of trust in a data transaction and the criteria to measure it, have already well-progressed, with more organizations joining, demonstrating the importance of the topics being discussed. Results are expected at the end of 2024. 

Standardization is crucial. Without standards, no business can operate, and no products or services can be sold or used at scale. In a highly digitized and connected world, standardizing trusted data transactions has become a necessity. 

Access the CEN Workshop Agreement on Trusted Data Transaction Part 1.

You can also access the full Gaia-X Mag December 2024 Edition. 

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