Governments must help citizens to wrench data back from companies owning it

18 May 2020 - 16:38Covid-19 has demonstrated how data can provide new sources of evidence for public policy-making. Internet search histories are being used to detect unknown outbreaks and in many countries governments are using cellphone location data to track population movements and contain the spread of the virus.

Finally, data has “externalities”. The use of data by one person affects the costs and benefits of others. We tend to focus on the negative externalities of data, as when private firms harvest our data and sell to third parties without our knowledge or consent. The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal is a case in point. We forget that data also has positive externalities. When different data sets are combined, new knowledge is produced and new value is created.

The concentration of data in the hands of private companies slows down innovation and growth. When a few dozen companies have access to the most valuable data only a few dozen companies can contribute to inventing new things. A recent report by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development suggests that if data were more widely shared many countries could enjoy gains worth 1%-2.5% of GDP.

So what needs to be done? First, we must acknowledge that market forces alone will not solve the problem. Too much data is already concentrated in the hands of the private sector, and government intervention is needed if we are to benefit — collectively — from the data revolution.

Get real!

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

ACSA seeks support for R11bn in new debtAirports operator ACSA needs treasury support to finance up to R11-billion of new debt by 2025, the state-owned company said on Monday. Let Makhandakhanda give them HeidiGiokos Well let's see if tito will give them, if he does what about saa, because acsa won't survive without saa higher fees they were charging saa tito_mboweni
Source: eNCA - 🏆 49. / 51 Read more »

ANC, it’s time to back down on the lockdownThere are those in the government who would be willing to hold on to the lockdown if for no other reason than being seen to bow to DA pressure and to follow the opposition party’s suggestions.
Source: TheCitizen_News - 🏆 6. / 75 Read more »

ADEKEYE ADEBAJO: Tanzanian minister leaves a lasting legacy of peacemakingAugustine Mahiga, who died on May 1, was the country’s representative to the UN and helped establish a government in Somalia
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Covid-19 lockdown: Need to move faster on relief, and split tourism sectorThe issue of whether some subsectors within the broader tourism sector can ease back into operations sooner is under discussion by government. Your are EVIL 👿 ! Will this also be based on you BBEEE rating
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »

Let's pay companies R10,000 for each job saved: EC premier to Cyril RamaphosaFor each job saved in manufacturing, the Eastern Cape provincial government will reward companies with R10,000. Covid19SA There should be well thought criteria for the successful companies who will benefit. There a possibility of them saving jobs for less than six months or so! 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 Good idea on paper, however another corruption tap opening - Eastern Cape state coffer money disappears without accountability, day after day, year after year since Madiba's funeral.
Source: SowetanLIVE - 🏆 13. / 63 Read more »

Let's pay companies R10,000 for each job saved: EC premier to Cyril RamaphosaFor each job saved in manufacturing, the Eastern Cape provincial government proposes to reward companies with R10,000. Great Idea 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 also consider Andile Mngxitama's Idea Brilliant The RLF calls upon government to give all poor and unemployed citizens including all Social Security Grant categories a Universal lncome Grant of R7000.00 monthly. Stupid idea, you save more money to let the employee go than R10000.
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »