The Australian government has introduced a Consumer Data Right (CDR) giving consumers greater control over their data. Part of this right requires the creation of common technical standards making it easier and safer for consumers to access data held about them by businesses, and – if they choose to – share this data via application programming interfaces (APIs) with trusted, accredited third parties.

The Data Standards Body (DSB), which sits within the Consumer Data Right Division in Treasury, has been established by the Australian Government to deliver open technical standards that support the CDR in empowering Australian consumers to share their data simply and safely with organisations of their choosing.

The DSB is responsible for assisting Mr Andrew Stevens, the Data Standards Chair, in the development of common technical standards to allow Australians to access data held about them by businesses and direct its safe transfer to others. The work of standards development is conducted as part of the development of the CDR regulatory framework.

The DSB works in close consultation with Treasury colleagues responsible for CDR policy, rules, sectoral assessments, engagement with the CDR community and program leadership, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as lead regulator of the Consumer Data Right, supported by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). The Consumer Data Right is intended to apply sector by sector across the whole economy, beginning in the banking sector.

The next step for Consumer Data Right is in the energy and telecommunications sectors with other sectors to follow. Working groups have been established to support the DSB in designing and testing the open standards it develops. Input provided by the Advisory Committees and working groups, alongside draft guidance materials, API specifications and implementation materials are being shared on our website and on GitHub.