Global Data Justice: toward an inclusive framing of informational rights and freedoms
Places and populations that were previously digitally invisible are now part of a 'data revolution' celebrated as a driver of human and economic development. At the same time, this unprecedented expansion of power through access to and use of data is at odds with the idea of social justice. There is still no clear understanding of how broader access to the benefits of data technologies can be achieved without exacerbating misrepresentation, discrimination, and power inequalities. This calls for a new framework of data justice, where data privacy, non-discrimination, and the non-use of data technologies are combined with positive freedoms such as representation and access to data.
Impact
The Data Justice team has mapped experiences with data technologies in high- and low-income countries worldwide to understand people's fundamental needs regarding these technologies from their perspectives on justice. Based on this, a concept of data justice has been developed that can be used to analyze and govern data technologies on a global scale.
The team explored this through themes, including the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, the project published an (open access) book featuring diverse perspectives on how the Covid-19 pandemic has influenced government practices through technology.
One issue highlighted during the pandemic was the increasing demand for mental well-being apps. People in vulnerable situations often rely on apps based on commercial business models, while app regulation standards and evaluation procedures remain inadequate.
For this specific issue, an ERC Proof of Concept follow-up grant was applied for and awarded. Through the APPSAFE project, a new method was developed to evaluate mental health apps, taking user needs into account. APPSAFE designed a prototype of an automated assessment system for mental well-being apps.
Prof. dr. Linnet Taylor (Tilburg University): "We all have data doublers and none of us know what they do. That is why I am researching data justice, because I think we need to apply justice principles to the work our data doublers do."
More info: https://globaldatajustice.org/
Horizon Europe - ERC
