From Datafication to Data Commons: Reclaiming Data Sovereignty in the Posthuman Age

We live in a world awash in data. Every click, every swipe, every GPS coordinate, every heartbeat tracked by a fitness app, every gene sequenced – it all leaves a trace, a digital breadcrumb in the ever-expanding data­sphere. This data deluge, fueled by the rise of networked technologies and the internet, presents both unprecedented opportunities and unprecedented risks.

Right now, the dominant force shaping the datafication of our world is the capitalist assemblage, with its insatiable hunger for profit. Our personal data is mined, commodified, and traded like a precious resource, often without our knowledge or consent. But a new paradigm is emerging, one that challenges the extractive logic of surveillance capitalism and offers a vision for a more equitable and just data future: Data Commons.

The Data Deluge: Mapping the Terrain

Think of our world as a giant sensor array, constantly collecting and transmitting information about every aspect of our lives. This datafication process, while seemingly abstract and technical, has profound social and political consequences.

• Territorial Assemblages: Datafication impacts local communities by enabling new forms of surveillance and control, often amplifying existing power imbalances. Think of how facial recognition technology deployed in neighborhoods disproportionately targets marginalized communities.
• State Assemblages: Governments leverage datafication for purposes of governance, using it to monitor citizens, manage populations, and shape public opinion. Think of how the Chinese government uses social media data to enforce social control and censor dissent.
• Capitalist Assemblages: Corporations are at the forefront of datafication, turning our personal information into a lucrative commodity to be mined for profit. Think of the sprawling data empires built by Google, Facebook, and Amazon, fuelled by targeted advertising and the commodification of our online behavior.
• Nomadic Assemblages: Migrants and other mobile populations are particularly vulnerable to datafication, as their movements and communications are often tracked and monitored by border agencies and other authorities. Think of how refugee data is collected and used to control access to resources and opportunities.

Beyond Surveillance Capitalism: Data Commons as a Counterforce

The antidote to the extractive logic of surveillance capitalism, Data Commons reimagine data as a shared resource, a digital commons to be governed for the benefit of all. It’s a paradigm shift that challenges the private ownership of data and promotes a more democratic and equitable approach. Think of initiatives like the D-CENT project, which developed blockchain-based tools for citizen participation and data governance.

Here’s a breakdown of the key principles:

• Collective Ownership: Data is not seen as private property but as a shared resource owned and managed collectively by those who generate it.
• Democratic Governance: Communities have a say in how their data is collected, used, and shared, ensuring that it serves their needs and reflects their values.
• Ethical Data Practices: Transparency, accountability, and privacy are central to Data Commons, challenging the opaque and often exploitative practices of surveillance capitalism.

Data as a Verb: The Power of Commoning

Data Commons are not just about storing information; they’re about creating the conditions for action. They are a platform for collaboration, a space where people can come together to share knowledge, build new tools, and tackle shared challenges. Think of projects like Safecast, a citizen-science initiative that uses open data to monitor environmental radiation levels.

Here are a few examples of Data Commons in action:

• Citizen Science: Data Commons are empowering citizen scientists to collect and analyze data on a range of issues, from climate change to public health, creating a more participatory and democratic approach to scientific research.
• Data Cooperatives: Cooperatively owned and governed platforms are emerging to allow individuals to pool and manage their data collec-tively, challenging the extractive practices of data giants and ensuring that the value generated from data is shared equitably.
• Public Data for Social Good: Governments are increasingly making data publicly available, creating opportunities for researchers, activists, and citizens to use this information to address social and environmental challenges and to hold those in power accountable.

The rise of Data Commons signifies a crucial moment in the posthuman age: a time where the machines we have created are generating unprecedented amounts of information about our world and ourselves. The question now is, will we allow this data to be controlled by a privileged few, or will we reclaim it as a common good and use it to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all? The answer lies in the power of collective action – the power of commoning.

Data is not just something to be collected, analyzed and hoarded. It’s a dynamic force that can empower communities, drive innovation, and enable the creation of new forms of social and political organization. The shift from datafication to data commons is therefore more than just a technical change; it’s a political and social revolution. It’s a revolution that challenges the very foundations of capitalism and its dependence on the private ownership and control of resources. It’s a revolution that recognizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living things. It’s a revolution that calls for a new ethics of care, responsibility, and collective stewardship. It’s a revolution that can help us build a more humane and sustainable world.