What is 'data colonialism'? - BBC REEL

Summary

Data colonialism refers to the exploitation of personal information by big tech companies for profit, often without users' full understanding or consent. This practice has become more pervasive with the rise of online services and apps that harvest data through seemingly harmless activities. The concept, explored by scholars Nick Couldry and Ulises Mejias, draws parallels to historical colonialism, where human life is appropriated for economic gain. Despite concerns about privacy and control, the lack of regulation and transparency allows companies to exploit data on a global scale. To counter this, users need to be more aware of their data rights and demand stronger protections from governments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Data colonialism refers to the exploitation of personal data by tech companies for profit and control, turning human life into a commodity.
• 😀 Personal data is collected from activities like social media, GPS, health apps, online shopping, and search history, often without users' full consent.
• 😀 Critics argue that the term 'data colonialism' is valid because, like historical colonialism, it involves the appropriation of valuable resources—in this case, personal data.
• 😀 Similar to how the Spanish empire used the Requerimiento to force indigenous people to accept new conditions, tech companies use confusing terms of service to gain consent for surveillance.
• 😀 Surveillance capitalism is a system where companies view human behavior as raw material for data mining and profit generation.
• 😀 Google views data as a free, owner-less resource, akin to sunlight, which can be harvested sustainably for the benefit of humanity.
• 😀 One-third of countries lack strong data protection laws, allowing companies to freely harvest and exploit personal data with little oversight.
• 😀 Facebook’s Free Basics initiative, which aimed to connect underserved populations to the internet, was criticized for exploiting users' data and undermining local digital economies.
• 😀 In countries with weak data protection laws, especially in Africa, tech companies can continue to operate without adequate privacy safeguards.
• 😀 To combat data colonialism, individuals must be more aware of the data they share online and critically assess the terms of service they agree to.
• 😀 Governments must modernize privacy laws and inform citizens of their rights, such as the 'right to be forgotten,' to empower individuals to protect their personal data.

Q & A

What does 'data colonialism' mean?

Data colonialism refers to the exploitation of our personal information by big tech companies to maximize their profits and exert control over our time and usage of online platforms. It is a form of appropriation of human life through the conversion of our personal data into a commodity.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic influenced the dependence on online platforms?

The Covid-19 pandemic has intensified our reliance on virtual and online activity. Services like social media, health apps, insurance companies, online shopping, and taxi apps have all become integral parts of daily life, requiring access to personal data to function.

Who are Nick Couldry and Ulises Mejias, and what is their perspective on data colonialism?

Nick Couldry and Ulises Mejias are scholars who argue that data colonialism is akin to historical colonialism, but instead of physical territories and resources, companies are appropriating human life through data. They explore this idea in their book 'The Costs of Connection'.

Why do some critics believe the term 'data colonialism' is inappropriate?

Some critics argue that the term 'data colonialism' is unsuitable because traditional colonialism involved violent conquests and physical takeover of land. They believe data exploitation does not involve the same level of violence. However, Couldry and Mejias contend that there are still significant parallels to historical colonialism.

What is the Requerimiento, and how does it relate to modern digital consent?

The Requerimiento was a Spanish document read by conquistadors to demand natives' acceptance of Spanish conquest, even though they didn't understand it. This is compared to the terms of service agreements we accept online today, which are often unclear and long, yet we click 'accept' without fully understanding the consequences of granting consent.

What is the role of surveillance capitalists in the data economy?

Surveillance capitalists are tech companies that view human experience as 'raw material' for turning into behavioral data. They believe data is a free, owner-less resource that can be sustainably harvested to benefit humanity, though this view disregards the exploitation and harm caused to individuals.

How does Google view human data, and what is their stance on its ownership?

Google believes that data is more like sunlight than oil—it's not a finite resource that can be owned or appropriated from a specific territory. Instead, they view human data as a natural, owner-less material that can be harvested for the common good, often ignoring the potential harms and ethical concerns surrounding its collection.

Why do many countries fail to protect citizens' data privacy?

One-third of all countries lack sufficient data privacy laws or enforcement. This regulatory gap allows tech companies to freely harvest data, often under the guise of providing humanitarian services, without adequate protections for individual privacy or autonomy.

What was Facebook's Internet.org initiative, and why was it controversial?

Facebook launched Internet.org, aimed at providing free internet access to underserved populations through Facebook Free Basics. The initiative was controversial because it allowed Facebook to harvest large amounts of personal data without users' informed consent and undermined the ability of developing countries to create their own digital economies.

How can individuals and countries combat data colonization?

Individuals can combat data colonization by being more mindful of the information they share online and questioning the terms of service before accepting them. Countries can support data privacy by modernizing laws, educating citizens about their rights (such as the 'right to be forgotten'), and enforcing stronger protections for personal data.