Public open data system to debut in Shanghai

Starting next month, Shanghai will start trial operation of a city-level public open data system, the country’s first of its kind, in an effort to boost the digital economy and tech innovation.

The system, to debut on October 1, will cover online finance, smart transportation, health care, culture and tourism sectors in its initial stage. It will make Shanghai one of the most “open” cities globally and boost digital economic development, said Chen Mingbo, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai government.

Meanwhile, data security remains a first priority for the government, Chen told a conference held on Wednesday.

To better serve demand and protect privacy and data safety, the system will open public data using a variety of standards and a ratings system. Shanghai has adopted technologies like Data Masking that hides sensitive and personal information, city government officials said on Wednesday.

With the system, Shanghai will improve data usage and develop in-depth applications based on data processing, meeting demands to improve the investment environment and urban management in Shanghai, said Zhu Zongyao, director of the Shanghai Big Data Center.

For example, eight bureaus and four banks have attended open-data projects on inclusive finance. These will improve access and equality of opportunity for financial service users based on data and credit systems.

In the long term, Shanghai will become a national open-data demonstration zone as  sample for others, Chen added.

In 2012, Shanghai started opening certain forms of data. Since 2017, it has become the top city nationwide on public data openness.