Let’s imagine a friend, or rather, our best friend. For us to grant them such a meaningful title, they would have to meet certain fundamental requirements that any relationship of trust demands. One of the most essential is confidentiality and responsible safeguarding of sensitive information we share with them.

We would expect our best friend to safeguard, with the utmost care and loyalty, every piece of information we entrust to them, as if their very existence depended on it. It is not just a matter of safeguarding information, but of ensuring that it is handled with utmost responsibility, using tools and mechanisms that safeguard its exposure and prevent its misuse. But trust is not only limited to safeguarding information. It also implies a commitment to use data correctly, transparently, and without unnecessary judgments. In other words, that everything we share is used for the best purposes, without second intentions or adverse consequences.

We expect this relationship to be built on empathy and respect, showing exemplary ethics in terms of handling information, ensuring that its sole purpose is to contribute to the common good and the proper management of resources.

It is not only about what we expect, but also about what we do not expect. For example, under no circumstances would we expect a friend to expose our information to third parties without our consent, let alone use it for their own benefit, and much less so that it could be used for purposes that could harm us, that there are leaks or mishandling, or even worse, that it could be exchanged for commercial purposes. Trust is built both in what we do and what we avoid doing, and any hint of misuse can destroy trust in that relationship.

And well, no, I’m not talking about best friends.

In the digital age, which encompasses the ultimate expression of the constant evolution in which we live, data has taken on insurmountable value. It is the engine of innovation, the key to transparency, and the pillar on which decisions are made in all areas. Its impact is so significant that trust in its use has become an indispensable requirement to ensure the proper functioning of institutions and organizations. Tax administrations are no strangers to this situation, since they largely rely on the information provided by taxpayers.

However, it is not enough to consider only the clarity and accuracy of the data. It is also essential to analyze the treatment given to it by the tax administration.

How should citizens’ most sensitive information be managed? This is where the concept of trust comes into play, like that of a relationship between true friends.

Just as information is entrusted, the tax administration is required to guarantee the safeguarding and ethical use of data.

Tax administrations cannot escape the computing hazards and risks inherent to information management in this digital era. The constant threat, both internal and external, poses a continuous challenge, which must be assumed with responsibility and ethics.

Additionally, understanding that although tax administrations function as a whole, there are multiple agents within its structure, and it is necessary that the highest authorities assume the responsibility for implementing and reinforcing mechanisms to prevent improper use of data. It is not only a matter of safeguarding information from external threats, but also of ensuring that no internal agents use the information improperly, thus compromising the trust that citizens may place in the tax administration.

Responsible use of data not only strengthens trust between the tax administration and citizens, but also reinforces the tax-related actions put in place. Taxpayers have the right to know how their information will be used and the basis on which decisions affecting them are made.

In this regard, we had the opportunity to talk to Raul Zambrano, Technical Assistance and Innovation Director, about the “Guide for the Safeguarding and Ethical Use of Information Held by Tax Administrations.” The purpose of this guide is to provide key recommendations for the development of a comprehensive data safeguarding strategy, ensuring responsible and ethical use of information.

During our conversation, we delved into how administrations can implement measures that ensure not only the proper use of data, but also its responsible treatment, i.e., that the analyses performed not only make use of the information correctly, but also generate accurate, equitable, unbiased results.

We also addressed other key issues, such as data quality and its relationship with information governance and security. From the perspective of tax administrations, we also discuss the challenges to be faced when implementing innovation strategies, in particular the adoption of cloud services and the measures to be considered for their proper integration.

To watch the video, you can click on the following link to our Podcast “Al día con el CIAT” and download the book from our library. (Spanish only)

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