Session host: Riikka Lindroos-Järvitalo, Kela
Title: Blind spots of data futures
When we envision digital societies and human-centric and sustainable data practices, the words that are conjured up often revolve around efficiency, ease and transparency – functioning services and users and citizens capable of navigating them. While this is true, this is only a partial truth. What is left unsaid and unseen is the larger political and material foundations of data and digital technology –such as the material nature of our digital words, from minerals to copper wires and the human labor labeling, sifting and producing data.
In this presentation Demos Helsinki’s experts on technology in society Johannes Mikkonen and Johannes Anttila uncover the blind spots of data futures and put forward the interventions to grasp the societal and communal benefits of data and digital technology. These can be addressed by governments and regulators, policymakers, companies, developers, researchers, and organisations.
Speakers: Johannes Mikkonen & Johannes Anttila, Demos Helsinki
Title: Collective data futures
When we talk about ‘human-centric data’, we need to think about humans – plural – not just individuals. Connected by Data’s Gavin Freeguard will talk about the need to think about the collective and societal impacts, benefits and risks as well as individual ones; the importance of decision subjects as well as data subjects; and how the next 18 months of UK politics provides an opportunity for better data policy and a brighter data future.
Speaker: Gavin Freeguard