he global digital ecosystem is being rewritten in real time. At the heart of this transformation lies a resource more powerful than oil or capital: information. Who controls it, who shapes its flow, and who gets left behind in the algorithmic tide will define not only the next economy but the very fabric of democratic life.
Today, the average person generates over 1.7MB of data per second, yet retains virtually no control over how that data is used. Extractive data models engineered to monetize attention and polarize engagement have reshaped public discourse and eroded institutional trust. Meanwhile, algorithmic bias and predictive profiling increasingly affect everything from credit scores to job applications, subtly excluding individuals from economic opportunities without transparency or recourse.
Empowering Individual Agency
Empowering individual agency in this landscape requires a paradigm shift. We must move from data subjects to data citizens. This means embedding privacy and autonomy by design giving individuals control over their digital footprint, algorithmic explainability, and the right to opt out. The EU’s Digital Services Act and AI Act are early efforts, but global coordination is urgently needed.
As AI and automation redefine labor markets, the risk of structural job displacement looms. But innovation can also democratize opportunity. Platforms that reward micro–contributions, decentralized talent marketplaces, and portable digital credentials can empower workers across geographies—if underpinned by fair governance and interoperable standards.
Yet inclusion cannot be an afterthought. Nearly 2.6 billion people remain offline. Without intentional action, the new digital economy risks entrenching old divides—economic, geographic, and generational. Moreover, climate shocks, conflict, and forced displacement will only exacerbate vulnerability unless digital public goods such as connectivity, digital ID, or access to education are prioritized globally.
The Political Challenge
Ultimately, the challenge is not just technological. It is profoundly political: who designs the systems, who benefits, and whose voices are heard. As I argue in my work on AI Diplomacy, we need a new ethic of digital governance: one that bridges innovation and equity, sovereignty, and solidarity. The future of our societies will depend on our ability to reclaim agency not just over data, but over the systems that increasingly shape our choices, our economies, and our collective future.
a global affairs media network
From data subjects to data citizens
Image via Adobe Stock
October 27, 2025
The digital age concentrates power in data systems that few control. Moving from data subjects to data citizens means reclaiming agency through privacy, transparency, and equitable digital governance—linking innovation to democracy itself, writes Rui Duarte.
T
he global digital ecosystem is being rewritten in real time. At the heart of this transformation lies a resource more powerful than oil or capital: information. Who controls it, who shapes its flow, and who gets left behind in the algorithmic tide will define not only the next economy but the very fabric of democratic life.
Today, the average person generates over 1.7MB of data per second, yet retains virtually no control over how that data is used. Extractive data models engineered to monetize attention and polarize engagement have reshaped public discourse and eroded institutional trust. Meanwhile, algorithmic bias and predictive profiling increasingly affect everything from credit scores to job applications, subtly excluding individuals from economic opportunities without transparency or recourse.
Empowering Individual Agency
Empowering individual agency in this landscape requires a paradigm shift. We must move from data subjects to data citizens. This means embedding privacy and autonomy by design giving individuals control over their digital footprint, algorithmic explainability, and the right to opt out. The EU’s Digital Services Act and AI Act are early efforts, but global coordination is urgently needed.
As AI and automation redefine labor markets, the risk of structural job displacement looms. But innovation can also democratize opportunity. Platforms that reward micro–contributions, decentralized talent marketplaces, and portable digital credentials can empower workers across geographies—if underpinned by fair governance and interoperable standards.
Yet inclusion cannot be an afterthought. Nearly 2.6 billion people remain offline. Without intentional action, the new digital economy risks entrenching old divides—economic, geographic, and generational. Moreover, climate shocks, conflict, and forced displacement will only exacerbate vulnerability unless digital public goods such as connectivity, digital ID, or access to education are prioritized globally.
The Political Challenge
Ultimately, the challenge is not just technological. It is profoundly political: who designs the systems, who benefits, and whose voices are heard. As I argue in my work on AI Diplomacy, we need a new ethic of digital governance: one that bridges innovation and equity, sovereignty, and solidarity. The future of our societies will depend on our ability to reclaim agency not just over data, but over the systems that increasingly shape our choices, our economies, and our collective future.
