Commentary: A bill of data rights is needed to protect freedom of expression & privacy in the digital age
Author: Martin Tisne, MIT Technology Review, Published on: 14 December 2019
"It's time for a bill of data rights," 14 Dec 2018
... “Data ownership” is a flawed, counterproductive way of thinking about data. It not only does not fix existing problems; it creates new ones. Instead, we need a framework that gives people rights to stipulate how their data is used without requiring them to take ownership of it themselves... Even if you deny consent to “your” data being used, an organization can use data about other people to make statistical extrapolations that affect you. This example underscores the point that data is about power—people accused of or convicted of crimes generally have less power than those making bail and sentencing decisions.
... [D]ata rights are fundamentally about securing a space for individual freedom and agency while participating in modern society... A Bill of Data Rights should include rights like these:
- The right of the people to be secure against unreasonable surveillance shall not be violated.
- No person shall have his or her behavior surreptitiously manipulated.
- No person shall be unfairly discriminated against on the basis of data.
[refers to Apple, Facebook, Microsoft]