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Data for Empowerment

This collaborative research series for Mozilla's Data Futures Lab explores how power can be shifted through data governance. Learn with us about the ideas, risks and opportunities of this new innovation landscape for the internet.

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Last updated — March 31, 2021

Research Collection

README | About This Research

Data for empowerment
From theory to practice
Our values
Looking into data futures
Key learnings so far
What’s next?
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Our team

What Does it Mean? | Shifting Power Through Data Governance

7 data governance approaches explored
What is a data cooperative?
What is a data commons?
What is a data collaborative?
What is a data trust?
What is a data fiduciary?
What is Indigenous data sovereignty?
What is a data marketplace?
Looking into data futures
References
Acknowledgements

Who is Innovating? | Global Landscape Scan and Analysis of Initiatives

Executive Summary
Ten examples of initiatives
Approach and scope
Database overview
Analysis
Regional trends
Looking ahead
Acknowledgments
References

Database of Initiatives | Alternative Data Governance in Practice

What Helps? | Understanding Needs and the Ecosystem for Support

Executive Summary
Introduction
Who is building the field?
Who needs alternative data governance and why?
How can the Data Futures Lab help?
Acknowledgements
References

What Could Go Wrong? | Failure Modes for Data Stewardship

Library and Resources

Data Futures Lab Glossary

What do we mean by the terms we use?
Data Governance
Alternative Data Governance
Data Stewardship
Builders
Supporting Entities
Beneficiaries
Consumer technology

Introduction

Part I: Inertia

Data stewardship initiatives fail from a lack of demand
Data stewardship initiatives fail to overcome collective action challenges
Data stewardship initiatives fail to win user trust
Data stewardship initiatives are financially unsustainable
Data stewardship initiatives are unable to resolve conflicts among stakeholders

Part II: Exclusion

Data stewardship initiatives may be governed inequitably
Data stewardship initiatives may further data protection inequities
Data stewardship fails to prevent algorithmic discrimination
Data stewardship models fail to prevent the weaponization of data against vulnerable groups

Part III: Entrenchment

Entrenched powers refuse to engage with data stewardship initiatives.
Data stewardship models are co-opted by technology platforms
Abuse or poor judgment by fiduciaries and trusted parties is difficult to identify and remediate
The surveillance economy cannot be normalized

The research for this series of the Data Futures Lab is ongoing and new studies are underway. We welcome you to contact Mozilla's Insights team with feedback or suggestions for collaboration.

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README | About This Research