Relevance to Theme: In 2015, countries agreed on adoption of a new sustainable development agenda, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. It will require the participation of all countries, stakeholders and people with support of science and technology. It is a common view for most countries that advanced technologies like the Big data, Internet and communication infrastructure can be used to promote economic growth and the well-being of the citizens. Nowadays, most developing countries are still struggling to bridge the "Digital Divide" with limited investments in ICT, education and innovation. In the coming decades, Big Data undoubtedly will be driving force for transforming the World and cross border data services will develop the knowledge for responding effectively to the risks and opportunities of society and economy development. The developing countries would benefit from data governance having readily available accepted principles and guidelines to explore and make accessible a wide range of data and efficient services. The data-driven technology and best practices on preservation and Open Access to data across countries and international communities will play important roles in enhancing joint efforts and achieving SDGs.
Relevance to Internet Governance: Globalization and sustainable development are the main trend at present, and there is lack of adequate balance, coordination or sustainability in the course of development. Population, resources and the environment still are great challenges for economic and social development of developing world. There are more and more big data programs and actions over the world in either global scale, such as Open Data in a Big Data Era (International Council for Sciences-ICSU), long term program, such as the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange" (IODE-UNESCO), regional scales, such as Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository (Chinese Academy of Sciences – CAS), and many local scale data programs. The new challenges from the big data cover the data in not only local scale, but regional and global; not only issues on data sharing, but data quality, security, timely, intellectual protection, networking, inter-operational technology etc. New laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will frame a new big data environment, all these issues requires the deep understanding and discussion in the context of internet governance. In order to recognize the big data challenges more focusable address the issues more efficiently and find out solutions more reliable, a common understanding of big data governance should come out soon.