Agencia de Gobierno Electrónico y Sociedad de la Información y del Conocimiento

11 - Data ecosystem, knowledge production and innovation in public security

Brief description of the commitment: To promote a data governance model in the Ministry of Interior, based on principles of active transparency, quality of information and protection of sensitive data, which promotes the strategic use of information to strengthen citizen control, foster research and innovation in public security.

Organization leading the commitment: Ministry of Interior, Area of Statistics and Applied Criminology (AECA), Area of Information and Communication Technologies.

Supporting Institutions/Organizations: Data and Society Laboratory (Datysoc) and Professional Institute of Journalistic Education (IPEP) endorse Milestone 6, Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technologies (CUTI) endorses Milestone 8.

Person responsible for the commitment: Diego Sanjurjo (Manager, AECA). Contact: diego.sanjurjo@minterior.gub.uy

Technical contacts: Edgardo García (Director of the Criminal Statistics Division, AECA). Contact: edgardo.garcia@minterior.gub.uy ; Fabricio Fagúndez, Director, Information and Communication Technologies Area. Contact: Fabricio.fagundez@minterior.gub.uy

Person responsible for monitoring: Carlos Pimienta. Contact: carlos.pimienta@minterior.gub.uy

Stakeholders:

1. Government: National Institute of Statistics, the National Agency for Research and Innovation, Agesic, Attorney General's Office, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of National Defense, National Drug Secretariat, among other public agencies that produce or consume data on public safety.
2. Civil Society: Data and Society Laboratory (Datysoc), the civil organization Data UY, among other social organizations interested in data on public safety.
3. Other actors: Academia (University of the Republic, Catholic University, University of Montevideo, ORT University), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Professional Institute of Journalism Education (IPEP), Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technologies (CUTI); among other actors interested in data on public safety.

Implementation period: July 2025 to June 2029.

Problem definition

What problem does the commitment address?

The Ministry of Interior maintains scattered records and databases, lacking unified governance to ensure their quality, traceability, and optimal use. This lack of integration hinders evidence-based decision-making, limits institutional transparency, and restricts public access to information of social interest. The problem affects government agencies, civil society, and academia, all of which face difficulties accessing, analyzing, and reusing relevant security data.

What are the causes of the problem?

The causes of this situation are numerous and stem from complex institutional dynamics, making it impossible to list them exhaustively. However, some key factors that significantly contribute to the problem can be identified, including:

• The absence of an institutional data governance strategy.
• The disconnection between the units that generate and use information.
• The limited coordination with external stakeholders for the social use of data.

Description of the commitment

What has been done so far to solve the problem?

In recent years, the Ministry of Interior has promoted various initiatives aimed at improving data management and openness, including specific efforts to publish open data, develop statistical visualizations, and collaborate with external stakeholders on research and dissemination projects. However, these actions have been mostly isolated, lacking a strategic framework to ensure their continuity, coherence, and comprehensive use of available information.

Regarding the protection of personal data, the Ministry recognizes and acts in accordance with the current legal framework, employing a legal unit that evaluates requests for access to public information and determines data disclosure based on legal criteria of confidentiality and privacy. It also has IT security measures in place for the databases under its custody. Furthermore, there are some specific data anonymization measures; however, a systematic and comprehensive process for statistical anonymization aligned with national and international standards has not yet been developed. Overall, the Ministry lacks a consolidated institutional strategy that addresses the protection and ethical use of personal data across all its systems and processes.

What solution does it propose?

The commitment involves developing and consolidating a comprehensive data governance model within the Ministry of Interior, aimed at ensuring the quality, traceability, protection, openness, and usability of information. This model will strengthen criminal statistical information systems, improving the legitimacy and transparency of data related to public security.

To this end, it is planned to implement actions such as the creation of a unified inventory of data and data-producing units. Each dataset will be categorized based on a legal and statistical analysis that determines its potential level of openness, in order to develop an open data agenda while ensuring compliance with current regulations on the protection of sensitive data. In this regard, differentiated access strategies will be defined, balancing data protection with transparency and usability for the public.

Furthermore, intra- and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms, as well as citizen participation, will be strengthened through regular multi-sectoral dialogue forums and specific training programs aimed at improving the quality of data production, management, and use. These coordination mechanisms are fundamental for guiding open data efforts in response to existing demands, evaluating information quality through the convergence of diverse sources, and promoting the creation of strategic alliances that expand and enhance the use of public data.

The commitment seeks to promote the strategic use of information through cooperation with academia, civil society, and international organizations, fostering the production of applied scientific knowledge and technologies. In this way, evidence-based public management will be promoted, reinforcing decision-making concerning security, improving accountability, and facilitating effective citizen oversight of implemented policies.

How will it contribute to solving the problem?

This commitment will help solve the problem by creating a unified data inventory that will allow for the systematic identification, organization, and management of information available in the Ministry of Interior, guaranteeing its quality and traceability. At the same time, it proposes the consolidation of a comprehensive data protection regulation aligned with national legislation and international standards. This will facilitate access to reliable and timely data for evidence-based decision-making, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public security policies.

Commitment analysis

How will the commitment promote transparency?

At the same time, by promoting openness and citizen participation in the use and analysis of data, institutional transparency will be fostered and social oversight strengthened, ensuring that the information generated is used as a tool to evaluate, design, and adjust public policies. This will generate a cultural shift toward the strategic management of data with social and ethical value, addressing the current dispersion of information and improving its public use.