---
id: "govlab:project/project-data-assembly"
type: "GovLab project"
title: "The Data Assembly"
url: "https://thegovlab.org/project/project-data-assembly"
summary: "The Data Assembly is an initiative to solicit diverse, actionable public input on data re-use for crisis response in the United States."
source: "The GovLab (thegovlab.org)"
licence: "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)"
---

# The Data Assembly

The Data Assembly is an initiative to solicit diverse, actionable public input on data re-use for crisis response in the United States.

Project website: [https://thedataassembly.org/](https://thedataassembly.org/)

## Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been significant interest in reusing data for pandemic response. However, policymakers often lack information about the concerns of different stakeholders, The Data Assembly’s deliberations will inform the creation of a responsible data re-use framework to guide the use of data and technology at the city and state level to fight COVID-19’s many consequences.

## Description

The Data Assembly will engage with civil rights organizations, key data holders and policymakers working in the United States, vulnerable groups and the public. This work will be done through remote consultations and deliberative platforms. With a diverse network of stakeholders, we will co-design a responsible data re-use framework. This framework will inform if, when and how the re-use personal data can be aligned with people’s expectations and societal values. While the initial focus of the Data Assembly will be data re-use for COVID-19 measures in New York City, the framework created will be applicable to policymaking beyond this pandemic.

## Location

- New York, New York; United States

## Partners

- Henry Luce Foundation

## Additional resources

- [Two-Page Background](https://thedataassembly.org/files/TheDataAssembly2-Pager.pdf)
- [Starting with NYC, New Initiative Weighs Pros and Cons of Data Re-use for COVID-19 and Future Threats](https://medium.com/data-stewards-network/starting-with-nyc-new-initiative-weighs-pros-and-cons-of-data-re-use-for-covid-19-and-future-b0314ee09ea6)