What are key considerations when sharing surveillance data with partners, and how can data governance be maintained?

• A. Data use agreements, de-identification, minimum necessary data, secure transfer, and access controls
• B. Openly sharing all raw data with anyone
• C. No de-identification, disregard access controls
• D. Sharing only with government agencies

Answer: (A)

Sharing surveillance data with partners requires a disciplined approach to governance that protects privacy while enabling legitimate collaboration. The best approach includes clear data use agreements, which spell out who may access the data, for what purposes, how long it will be retained, and who is responsible for safeguards. De-identification reduces the risk of re-identifying individuals, making it safer to share data beyond the originating organization. Sharing only the minimum necessary data limits exposure and reduces risk, ensuring partners get what they need without unnecessary detail. Secure transfer methods and encryption protect data in transit, while access controls ensure that only authorized people can view or work with the data. Together with authentication, regular audits, and defined data stewardship, these elements create a governance framework that can be maintained over time through policies, training, monitoring, and periodic reviews.

Openly sharing raw data with anyone undermines privacy and security and is not compatible with responsible governance. Omitting de-identification or ignoring access controls dramatically increases risk and violates privacy protections. Limiting sharing to government agencies may be appropriate in some contexts but is too restrictive and ignores the broader, legitimate external partnerships that governance plans should accommodate.