Use of Privately Held Data

Privately held data (PHD) refers to information collected by private-sector entities and non-governmental organisations in the course of their everyday operations. This includes mobile network data, mobile application data, digital platform data, and payment card/e-payment system data. In the era of digital transformation, these datasets offer valuable potential for official statistics.

Modern users — policymakers, businesses and citizens alike — expect statistics that are timely and granular. PHD can complement traditional sources and help improve quality while reducing the time needed to produce statistics. Typical applications include analyses of population mobility, shifts in consumer behaviour or assessments of service accessibility.

Statistics Poland takes part in pilot studies and projects testing new models for acquiring and using PHD, while fully upholding ethical standards, confidentiality and information security.

Today, private-sector data are obtained mainly through bilateral agreements between national statistical offices and commercial entities. One of the key priorities of the European Statistical System (ESS) is therefore to develop a legal framework that ensures systematic, transparent and secure access to PHD. In this context, the EU Data Strategy and the Data Act adopted in 2024 play an important role, as they regulate cross-sectoral data access and support data sharing while safeguarding privacy.

Under Regulation (EC) No 223/2009, all ESS members — including Statistics Poland — are strictly bound to respect principles of confidentiality, transparency and professional independence. Data are processed exclusively in aggregated form, and the protection of citizens’ and businesses’ privacy, as well as the security of information, remains paramount.

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Use of Privately Held Data | Statystyka międzynarodowa | GUS - Portal Informacyjny

Use of Privately Held Data

Use of Privately Held Data