Government Responsibility in the Authorized Operation of Public Data

Abstract

As a key mechanism for realizing the value transformation of new production factors, the authorized operation of public data provides institutional support for economic and social development. The public nature of public data, the principle of unified rights and responsibilities under delegation, and the governance needs of the digital era jointly constitute the foundation of government responsibility. On this basis, government responsibility can be specified as obligations of respect, protection, and provision. Given the separation inherent in authorized operation, market entities become the actual executors of data-opening tasks, and their conduct is characterized as market behavior rather than administrative action. In light of this feature, the guarantor state theory suggests that government guarantee responsibility should serve as the foundation of governmental obligations. Considering that the current performance of government responsibility in public data authorized operation is hindered by the weakening of government guarantee responsibility and the absence of effective market competition mechanisms, the government should assume comprehensive regulatory duties to ensure that operational activities do not deviate from the trajectory of public interest, while simultaneously fostering a fair competitive environment so that authorized operation may truly become a digital governance solution that is both public-oriented and sustainable.