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| Government Data Openness, Personal Information Protection, and Enterprise Digital Technology Innovation |
| Yang Jun Wang Zeyang Xiao Mingyue Jiang Mobing |
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Abstract Government data openness is widely regarded as a key initiative for unlocking the innovative potential of data. However, it also blurs the boundaries between publicness and privacy, leading to widespread concerns about the misuse of personal information and privacy breaches. Therefore, against the backdrop of growing institutional tension between government data openness and personal information protection, it is essential to investigate their impact on digital technological innovation in order to address the complex challenges of data governance.
This study constructs a theoretical framework from two perspectives: knowledge supply-driven and market demand-induced. Using the launch of government data open platforms as a quasi-natural experiment, the study employs a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to examine how government data openness affects enterprise digital technological innovation, and the role of the Personal Information Protection Law in shaping these effects. The results show that government data openness significantly increases both the quantity and quality of digital technological innovation, while also expanding the boundaries of innovation. Specifically, the opening of market economic data and public service data plays a crucial role in fostering innovation. Mechanism analysis identifies two main channels. On the one hand, it strengthens the knowledge supply for digital innovation by enhancing data availability, attracting digital talent, and promoting digital entrepreneurship. On the other hand, it stimulates market demand and drives digital technological innovation by alleviating market information asymmetry, improving market perception, and expanding market scale. Building on this, the study further examines the impact of personal information protection. It finds that the implementation of the Personal Information Protection Law not only leads the government to adjust the types of data opened but also compels enterprises to innovate in privacy protection technologies and compliance management. This results in a shift in both the structure of data supply and the patterns of digital innovation. The resultant impact weakens the positive effect of government data openness on enterprise digital technological innovation, confirming the existence of institutional tension between data openness and privacy protection.
This paper makes three key contributions. First, it is the first to integrate government data openness, personal information protection, and enterprise digital technological innovation into a unified analytical framework, providing a deeper insight into the role of different data governance policies in digital technological innovation in the digital age. Second, it identifies the specific mechanisms through which government data openness affects enterprise digital technological innovation from the dual perspectives, addressing the gap in previous literature that predominantly focused on the supply side while neglecting demand. Third, it highlights the constraints imposed by personal information protection on the innovative effects of government data openness, providing insights for policymakers balancing data use with information security.
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Published: 20 June 2026
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