Healthcare is an industry known to be data rich and information poor. The advent of big data for policy- and regulatory-setters has unequaled value. So much is data and information a critical aspect of healthcare service delivery that several landmark reports and publications are credited with standardizing data usage by requiring multiple data sources, assuring data validity and reliability for its intended use, and for influencing comparative improvement initiatives so consumers have a choice in where and from whom they receive care. This chapter defines policy and regulation and discusses landmark reports, documents, initiatives, and organizations that influence data management requirements. It proffers technology enhancements as influencers in global data sharing and posits function of data in advancing global strategic policy and regulation. The chapter also discusses barriers, constraints, and ethics to open source data use in the context of regulatory environments.