Data Colonialism

Title seems Odd ? No ! It seems odd cause we ( Including me ) know very less about it . As per me , All Internet user have some basic information related to this subject.

 

Data Colonialism made of two words – Data And Colony. In case of data we all know about it - Data may be song , Phone book , Pics etc. And Colony mean - A country or area under the full or partial political control of another country, typically a distant one, and occupied by settlers from that country. ( India was colony of British before 1947)

Data Colonialism mean that capability of some Person or Group to Influence you ( If not control) through the use of your data. The Addiction of the internet have no relation with this , Don’t be confuse with it. Following are the some examples as how data colonialism work :-

Hope , You hear that – Flipkart give some additional 10% discount through purchasing product from mobile app , Lens cart give free the first spectacles  frame on download of their App , Govt. Emphasis on the enrolment of the AADHAR card , Food Panda giving 50% discount on first order through App. 

Hope That At least once you think that – why this companies give such huge discount? And then You think that it may be their Marketing / Advertisement Strategy. No It’s No! Not At all . This is the game of the data collection. Myntra Closed her Website and now only deal through the mobile app.  By doing so , It Lost many customer but what they Gain is more then they loose - and what they gain , we don't know. Here is try to explain that :-

                                        (This pic is not form Myntra , It’s Just example)

When You download app , It ask you for permission of the some access of your phone data. We never pay attention to it . But it’s have the same importance as the nuclear Bomb have. ( You think , Yeh Kuch jyada ho gaya – But it’s not ) . Many times we do not know the potential value of the some thing. 

Many strategist call the Data having the equal value of the Textile in 17^th century  and oil in 20^th century. Data will decide All . A simple example of use of your data by company – Face book Suggest you – “People may you know” – It’s through the analysis of the data of your Mutual friends , Comments , Likes , Activities etc.

Here is the Two Example what I experienced  Related to this :- ( A Curious mind tend to be Negative ) 

First Related to Facebook – When Last year I was in delhi  ( Stay only 4 days) . Some Person become friend as part of Evening chat and Morning walk etc. Among many , there is a Gujju boy studying in Some college in uttarakhand and stayed at same place with me in delhi . - I don’t know him and Never meet him before that. I am totally shocked when I Login FB ( After returning Ahmedabad ) , FB suggest that Boy name as “ Person you may know” .  During the stay in Delhi I Have  Not a smart phone , We have no any mutual friend Then also FB suggest it ( May be through the Common search preference). This show the power of the data.

Second Related to Savan Song app – Just yesterday I was playing song Sooinya ( Guddu rangeela) Then tune the radio on ( It’s mean savan play song alike the Sooinya) . With All surprise Savan play song – Ho Subharambh ( Kai po che) , Which is one of the my most fav. I think it’s just coincident . Then Next One they play was Iktara ( Wake up sid) and Then Kabira ( Yeh Jawani H D ) . All My Fav.  It’s Understandable that Through Previous  History they suggest these but it was not case as I first time Try savan (On New ID ). This Suggestion through the Data history and profile history of the person and preferences of the person who like the song sooinya.

In the era of the computers and Internet , The Precision and forecasting is quite simple but at this extend may be dangerous for ourselves  in future. Don’t forget that – There was a US president who ask for the Uranium to all ( To produce Electricity – Civilian use) and Then Pak scientist Khan who make the proliferation as biggest problem of global politics.

Data Colonialism is the dangerous because  it create the divide of Have and Haves not . You Are the owner of the data then also you will not access of the data .( Ethically You should have that) . Take a example of the census data , You contribute in that Data and You also have the access of the use of that data but this is not case of the Digital data.

You should have to understand the value of your data. You are the owner of your data. As you do not give Your Bike / Laptop / Even Pen To any unknown , Please don’t give your data – Phone book access / Location History / Access of the Mails etc to anyone.

Just keep this In mind - Across the globe , there is race to Get the data , You Are the owner of that data – Behave like the King !! :D