Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing Data Governance Frameworks for Data Lakes: A Critical Review of Regulatory and Ethical Considerations
Nurul Huda Ahmad
Department of Computer Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
Abstract
The rapid expansion of data lakes as a key component in organizational data management strategies has heightened the need for effective data governance frameworks. These frameworks are essential for ensuring data quality, security, and compliance with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). However, implementing data governance in data lakes presents unique challenges due to the unstructured nature of the data, the integration of diverse data sources, and the complexities of maintaining data lineage and privacy. Furthermore, ethical considerations, including fairness, accountability, and transparency in data usage, add additional layers of complexity to governance practices. This paper critically reviews the challenges and opportunities associated with data governance in data lakes, with a particular emphasis on regulatory and ethical considerations. It explores the difficulties in ensuring regulatory compliance, maintaining data security and privacy, and upholding ethical standards in the context of data lakes. Additionally, the paper identifies opportunities for enhancing data governance through advanced metadata management, data lineage and provenance tracking, and the integration of machine learning and ethical AI principles. By addressing these challenges and leveraging these opportunities, organizations can develop robust data governance frameworks that not only comply with regulatory requirements but also support responsible and trustworthy data usage.
