Operationalizing digital self-determination
A proliferation of data-generating devices, sensors, and applications has led to unprecedented amounts of digital data. We live in an era of datafication, one in which life is increasingly quantified and transformed into intelligence for private or public benefit. When used responsibly, this offers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Data & Policy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2632324923000111/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797840140728532992 |
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| author | Stefaan G. Verhulst |
| author_facet | Stefaan G. Verhulst |
| author_sort | Stefaan G. Verhulst |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A proliferation of data-generating devices, sensors, and applications has led to unprecedented amounts of digital data. We live in an era of datafication, one in which life is increasingly quantified and transformed into intelligence for private or public benefit. When used responsibly, this offers new opportunities for public good. The potential of data is evident in the possibilities offered by open data and data collaboratives—both instances of how wider access to data can lead to positive and often dramatic social transformation. However, three key forms of asymmetry currently limit this potential, especially for already vulnerable and marginalized groups: data asymmetries, information asymmetries, and agency asymmetries. These asymmetries limit human potential, both in a practical and psychological sense, leading to feelings of disempowerment and eroding public trust in technology. Existing methods to limit asymmetries (such as open data or consent) as well as some alternatives under consideration (data ownership, collective ownership, personal information management systems) have limitations to adequately address the challenges at hand. A new principle and practice of digital self-determination (DSD) is therefore required. The study and practice of DSD remain in its infancy. The characteristics we have outlined here are only exploratory, and much work remains to be done so as to better understand what works and what does not. We suggest the need for a new research framework or agenda to explore DSD and how it can address the asymmetries, imbalances, and inequalities—both in data and society more generally—that are emerging as key public policy challenges of our era. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:09:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b3113bc216b42d8b4a9a73f5e895463 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2632-3249 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:09:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Data & Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b3113bc216b42d8b4a9a73f5e8954632023-04-24T10:46:00ZengCambridge University PressData & Policy2632-32492023-01-01510.1017/dap.2023.11Operationalizing digital self-determinationStefaan G. Verhulst0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0107-2984The GovLab, Center for Urban Science and Progress, New York University, New York, NY, USA ISI Foundation, Turin, Italy IMEC-SMIT Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium The Data Tank, Brussels, BelgiumA proliferation of data-generating devices, sensors, and applications has led to unprecedented amounts of digital data. We live in an era of datafication, one in which life is increasingly quantified and transformed into intelligence for private or public benefit. When used responsibly, this offers new opportunities for public good. The potential of data is evident in the possibilities offered by open data and data collaboratives—both instances of how wider access to data can lead to positive and often dramatic social transformation. However, three key forms of asymmetry currently limit this potential, especially for already vulnerable and marginalized groups: data asymmetries, information asymmetries, and agency asymmetries. These asymmetries limit human potential, both in a practical and psychological sense, leading to feelings of disempowerment and eroding public trust in technology. Existing methods to limit asymmetries (such as open data or consent) as well as some alternatives under consideration (data ownership, collective ownership, personal information management systems) have limitations to adequately address the challenges at hand. A new principle and practice of digital self-determination (DSD) is therefore required. The study and practice of DSD remain in its infancy. The characteristics we have outlined here are only exploratory, and much work remains to be done so as to better understand what works and what does not. We suggest the need for a new research framework or agenda to explore DSD and how it can address the asymmetries, imbalances, and inequalities—both in data and society more generally—that are emerging as key public policy challenges of our era.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2632324923000111/type/journal_articledatadata governancedata sovereigntydata stewardshipself-determinationtrust |
| spellingShingle | Stefaan G. Verhulst Operationalizing digital self-determination Data & Policy data data governance data sovereignty data stewardship self-determination trust |
| title | Operationalizing digital self-determination |
| title_full | Operationalizing digital self-determination |
| title_fullStr | Operationalizing digital self-determination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Operationalizing digital self-determination |
| title_short | Operationalizing digital self-determination |
| title_sort | operationalizing digital self determination |
| topic | data data governance data sovereignty data stewardship self-determination trust |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2632324923000111/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stefaangverhulst operationalizingdigitalselfdetermination |