Aapti Institute's Data Economy Lab is a dynamic space to think through legal, policy, governance and technological issues on data stewardship. We are evolving globally applicable principles for a “good steward”.
As data value chains become more ubiquitous, there is a need to unlock data for public purposes and reimagine its governance – to release it from the ill-negotiated monopolies, to create societal impact, and empower individuals and communities. It is time to build systems that allow for more democratic and human-centric data governance – in ways that make data accessible to enable innovation without compromising individual and community rights, agency, and security. This balance, of societal good, market innovation, and digital rights, is at the core of data governance apparatuses that are equitable, accountable, and just. Data stewardship enables an intermediary to facilitate consent and decision-making on behalf of users, to balance individuals and community data rights with the use of data for societal good.
The Lab, a partnership between Aapti Institute and Omidyar Network India, will conduct research and build communities of concern on data stewardship. It will explore and put forth principles, frameworks, policies and regulations to unlock data whilst protecting the interests of users.
The Lab will conduct research and build communities of concern on data stewardship. It will explore and put forth principles, frameworks, policies and regulations to unlock data whist protecting the interests of users.
As data becomes more and more ubiquitous, it is undeniable that there is a need to unlock the value of data by sharing, such that it is released from the monopolies of big technology companies, and used to empower individuals and address societal problems. It is, therefore, time to build systems and processes that allow for easy and safe data sharing in ways that enable innovation without compromising individual rights, agency and security and to derive public good. This balance of societal good, market innovation, and privacy is at the core of the questions on data governance, which needs to create data sharing apparatuses that are equitable, accountable, and just. In this context, data stewardship, a structure of data sharing where an intermediary facilitates or holds consent and decision-making on behalf of users, is a viable solution that can balance individuals data rights and the use of data for societal good.