ME

(18) Dr Tahu Kukutai, Te Ritorito 2017: 'Understanding indigenous data sovereignty'

Introduction

  • The speaker humorously addresses the surprise of being designated keynote speaker and turns the focus to a colleague.

  • Expresses a passion for data and its importance to discussions at the event.

The Data Landscape

Data Ubiquity

  • Data is pervasive in modern life, with an exponential increase in data availability.

  • Healthcare data has doubled over two years; human genome scans doubled in just seven months.

Personal Data Collection

  • Devices such as smartphones and Fitbits collect personal health data.

  • Concerns over patient-doctor privacy, likening personal health data sharing to publishing a medical autobiography.

Internet of Things (IoT)

  • Everyday devices (fridges, phones, buildings) collect and can share data.

  • Example: Facebook has 1.8 billion users, reflecting significant data capture of personal preferences.

  • Companies use social media data to create detailed consumer profiles targeting behaviors and influence decisions (e.g., purchases, voting).

Historical Context of Data Collection

Historical Data Practices

  • Data collected historically often reflected governmental motives for control, surveillance, and resource extraction.

  • Reference to the origins of the census in ancient civilizations related to taxation and labor.

Indigenous Peoples and Data Collection

  • Indigenous experiences with state-controlled data collection have been fraught, often used for assimilation or economic incorporation.

  • Māori data has frequently been manipulated by governmental narratives about gaps in social services.

Current Innovations and Issues

Data Sharing Initiatives

  • Discussion on the Prime Minister’s push for better data sharing among government, NGOs, and private sectors.

  • Data Futures Partnership aims to unlock economic and social data value in New Zealand.

Concerns Regarding Data Perspectives

  • Caution against blind faith in data and data experts.

  • Emphasizes that data points reflect contextual realities rather than absolute truths.

Challenges for Māori in Data Practices

Data Misinterpretation

  • Historical and ongoing narrative framing Māori as problems needing intervention.

  • Criteria for intervention often framed by government priorities over indigenous needs.

Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI)

  • IDI enables linking of diverse data sources but operates without full public awareness.

  • Critiques the absence of a unique identifier for tracking individuals like in Nordic countries.

Trust and Governance Issues

  • Trust, once broken, is hard to regain, especially regarding indigenous data rights.

  • Importance of robust Māori data governance - representative and protective.

Risks of Unchecked Data Practices

  • Risks include potential harm to indigenous communities from poorly governed data practices.

  • Emphasis on ensuring data practices are inclusive and accountable.

Conclusion

  • Urges for meaningful participation, protection, and partnership in data governance.

  • Without proper mechanisms, the data revolution may exacerbate, rather than alleviate, existing challenges for Māori.