[Annotated] We need to own our data as a human right - and be compensated for it

Identity and personal data will be vital aspects of^[각주:1] living in the future, says will.i.am, a musician and entrepreneur 

At a lunch at the World Economic Forum five years ago, guests were asked to predict what people would care about around 2019. My mind raced through thoughts about^[각주:2] identity and data. When the host, Marc Benioff, the founder and chairman of Salesforce, turned to me, I stated^[각주:3]: "idatity". Identity and data are increasingly intertwined. The term I coined that day^[각주:4] evokes the need for people to^[각주:5] be more aware of how they safeguard^[각주:6] and share their information. 

Personal data needs to be regarded as a human right, just as^[각주:7] access to water is^[각주:8] a human right. The ability for people to own and control their data should be considered^[각주:9] a central human value^[각주:10]. The data itself should be treated like property and people should be fairly compensated for it^[각주:11]. 

As a musician, I benefit from the copyright system that attaches ownership rights to my lyrics and instrumental tracks. Why should the data that I generate be handled any differently? It makes no sense that the information is used as the raw material to^[각주:12] produce billions of dollars of income for massive "data monarchs^[각주:13]" yet is of no financial value to me. 

But in the five years since that lunch in Davos, these data monarchs - companies like Facebook and Google that collect, store, mine and sell data - have expanded into giant businesses. While these companies that give away "free" services have grown rich, the data that belongs to^[각주:14] their users has at times^[각주:15] been compromised, and people's digital habits sold, often without their full knowledge^[각주:16]. 

The consequences have included fake news and groups that have influenced the outcome of America's presidential election and Britain's "Brexit" referendum to leave the European Union. Phoney^[각주:17] social-media campaigns have been launched in South Africa designed to create chaos^[각주:18]. So much for a "free" account. Has this ugly outcome that has divided societies on three continents been worth the trade? 

Of course, I love technology and apps. I'm always using Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. But I'm tired of being bombarded with^[각주:19] content^[각주:20] that adds little value to my life, and I've become desensitized^[각주:21] and ignore most of it. The data monarchs know more about me than my mother, my government or my doctor. Then there's the question of trust^[각주:22] - I've lost my faith in^[각주:23] social-media networks and search engines to deliver information that is as true as it is helpful. 

There is no data freedom when the options of who to sign up with are limited^[각주:24], the data monarchs rake in billions^[각주:25] and all one gets is a "free" account bursting with^[각주:26] advertising^[각주:27], faux news^[각주:28] and lame "sponsored content^[각주:29]". The current arrangement feels lopsided^[각주:30], benefiting the data monarchs more than it benefits individuals and communities. 

Payment is one way to redress the balance^[각주:31]. If personal data has been used to build a handful of companies that^[각주:32] exceed $3trn in market value^[각주:33], it should absolutely have monetary worth^[각주:34]. But so is transparency about the terms of trade^[각주:35]. I want to have it clearly explained in plain language^[각주:36] who has access to my camera, to my photos, who's listening to my microphone, and who gets to use this information. Are my apps tracking my activity^[각주:37] and selling information about me? Promisingly^[각주:38], Europe is making progress with^[각주:39] its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to help rebalance data rights to^[각주:40] be more transparent and fairer to people. 

Now step it up^[각주:41]: mix personal data with artificial intelligence (AI) and all these issues become super-charged^[각주:42]. With AI algorithms, police can predict high-crime periods^[각주:43] and pinpoint^[각주:44] neighborhoods where^[각주:45] more resources should be deployed^[각주:46]. Computers can screen x-rays and scans, identifying problems with more accuracy than the human eye. The potential benefits of^[각주:47] such services are huge. But they make it all the more important that consumers, especially young people, are educated about^[각주:48] "What is data?", "What is my personal data?" and "Why is it so valuable?". 

I see these issues not just as a user of technology but as an entrepreneur. Social-media platforms are the companies of today^[각주:49], but they are not the companies of tomorrow^[각주:50]. The next data giants will create new types of services designed to help people. They will become the most valuable companies in the world by proving beneficial new uses of^[각주:51] data and AI for people, based on a combination of trust, services that improve one's life and the involvement of communities^[각주:52]. 

Today, my gadgets may count my steps, but the aren't seeing the big picture: what I ate, how I felt, what my blood pressure is. New services, built from the point of view of the consumer, will benefit me by sharing and interconnecting my own data^[각주:53], rather than selling it on^[각주:54]. When more trust is established^[각주:55], my personal "agent" or "assistant" should merge relevant things together that are currently just disconnected data points. 

Their systems will be based on conversational computing^[각주:56] and aimed at consumers^[각주:57] and businesses. Consumers will be able to read the terms-of-service agreements that are fair to both sides and don't require an attorney to decipher^[각주:58]. It will be so easy that your granny can use it^[각주:59]. It will be intelligent and useful, from directions to find the right train station, to guidance on how^[각주:60] to live a healthier life. You will trust it and value it. 

Despite dark, cinematic visions of^[각주:61] a future hijacked by algorithms^[각주:62], I am an optimist that AI and data can contribute to society^[각주:63]. It is time to focus on doing what is moral^[각주:64], fair and right. I challenge today's data monarchs and the next generation of leaders to put their energies into data^[각주:65] and AI that serve humanity first, instead of designing platforms bent on controlling humanity with^[각주:66] money as the primary goal^[각주:67]. 

The ideas behind "idatity" are becoming understood. So what would I say today over lunch about what people will care about in five years? Actually, I'd say "idatity" again because i.am my data, and my AI agent should be my personal data scientist. But in five years, I believe this will be the norm^[각주:68]. Tomorrow's entrepreneurs will make use of my data^[각주:69] with my consent but I will always own it. 

1. vital aspect ; 중요한 면 [본문으로]
2. race through ; 1. To run or move very quickly or frantically through some place or thing. ;; 2. To do, complete, or perform something very quickly, hurriedly, or frantically. [본문으로]
3. state ; 1. (명확하게) …을 진술하다, 말하다, 보도하다, 알리다. ; 유의어 SPEAK ;; 2. 〔문제·관계 따위〕를 밝히다, 명시하다. ;; [VERB] If you state something, you say or write it in a formal or definite way. [본문으로]
4. coin ; 1. [타동사] (새로운 낱말어구를) 만들다 ;; [VERB] If you coin a word or a phrase, you are the first person to say it. [본문으로]
5. evoke ; [타동사][VN] (격식) (감정·기억·이미지를) 떠올려 주다[환기시키다] ;; [VERB] To evoke a particular memory, idea, emotion, or response means to cause it to occur. [본문으로]
6. safeguard ; [타동사] ~ sth/sb (against/from sth) | ~ against sth (격식) (분실손상 등에 대비하여) 보호하다 ;; [VERB] To safeguard something or someone means to protect them from being harmed, lost, or badly treated. [본문으로]
7. just as ; 꼭 …처럼 [본문으로]
8. access ; 2. ~ (to sth) 접근권, 접촉 기회 ; 참조 visitation ;; [NOUN] [usu N to n] If you have access to a building or other place, you are able or allowed to go into it. [본문으로]
9. be considered sth ; ~로 간주되다 [본문으로]
10. central ; 1. 중심되는, 가장 중요한 [본문으로]
11. compensate ; 1. …에게 보상하다, 변상하다, 배상하다, 보답하다; 《美》 (보수·급료를) …에게 지불하다[for/with]. ;; 2. …을 보충[벌충]하다, 상쇄하다[with, by]. ;; [자동사] 보상[보충]하다, 메우다[for, to]. ;; [VERB] To compensate someone for money or things that they have lost means to pay them money or give them something to replace that money or those things. [본문으로]
12. raw material ; [C, U] 원자재, 원료, 소재 ;; [NOUN] material on which a particular manufacturing process is carried out [본문으로]
13. monarch ; 1. 군주, 전제[절대] 군주, 제왕, 황제. ;; 2. [비유적] 왕자, 거물, 동류의 것들 중에서 뛰어난 것. ;; 미국식 [ˈmɑːnərk; -ɑːrk] 영국식 [ˈmɒnək] [본문으로]
14. data를 단수로 받은 것을 확인 [본문으로]
15. at times ; 가끔은[때로는] ;; sometimes [본문으로]
16. full knowledge ; 숙지 ;; 참고 in full knowledge of [본문으로]
17. phoney (phony 특히 美) ; (phonier, phoniest) (비격식, 못마땅함) 가짜의, 거짓된, 허위의 ; 유의어 fake ;; [ADJ] If you describe something as phoney, you disapprove of it because it is false rather than genuine. [본문으로]
18. create chaos ; 혼란을 일으키다. [본문으로]
19. be bombarded with ; ~의 폭격[공격]을 받다 ; (질문, 비난 등의) 공세를 받다 [본문으로]
20. content ; 5. [U] (컴퓨터) 콘텐츠 [본문으로]
21. desensitize ; [사진] <감광재의> 감도를 줄이다; [생리] 민감성[과민성]을 줄이다[없애다]; 냉담[무관심]하게 하다 ;; [VERB] To desensitize someone to things such as pain, anxiety, or other people's suffering, means to cause them to react less strongly to them. [본문으로]
22. a question of trust ; 신뢰의 문제 [본문으로]
23. lose faith in ; …을 신뢰하는 마음을 잃다 [본문으로]
24. sign up with ; …와 계약하다. [본문으로]
25. rake in sth ; [비격식] ~을 긁어[검어] 들이다(특히 많은 돈을 쉽게 벌어들임을 나타냄) ;; to earn large amounts of money without difficulty [본문으로]
26. burst with ; …으로 터질 듯하다 [본문으로]
27. advertising ; [U] 광고(하기); 광고업 ;; [NOUN] Advertising is the activity of creating advertisements and making sure people see them. [본문으로]
28. faux ; 인조[모조, 위조]의, 가짜의(fake) ;; 미국식 [foʊ] 영국식 [fəʊ] [본문으로]
29. lame ; 2. (변명·해명 등이) 설득력이 없는, 믿기 힘든, 변변찮은 ; 유의어 feeble, unconvincing ;; 미국∙영국 [leɪm] [본문으로]
30. lopsided ; 1. (배·건물 따위가) 한쪽으로 기운. ;; 2. 일방적인; 균형이 안 잡힌, 좌우 불균형의. ;; uneven [본문으로]
31. redress the balance ; (불평등·불공평한 상황의) 균형을 바로잡다[공평을 기하다] ;; make a situation equal or fair again [본문으로]
32. a handful of ; 소수의 [본문으로]
33. market value ; 시장 가격, 시가(어떤 시장에 있어서 어느 짧은 기간의 상품의 평균 가격)(opp. book value ; cf. normal value). ;; market price [본문으로]
34. monetary ; [명사 앞에만 씀] 2. 금전(상)의; 금융의, 재정적인. ; 유의어 FINANCIAL [본문으로]
35. terms of trade ; [명사] (경제) 교역 조건(수출품과 수입품의 교환 비율). ;; 무역 조건 ((수입과 수출의 교환 비율)) [본문으로]
36. in plain language ; 쉽게 말하면. [본문으로]
37. track ; 1. (자취 등을 따라) 추적하다[뒤쫓다] [본문으로]
38. promisingly ; [부사] 전도 유망하게 ; 전망 좋게. ;; [ADV] If something or someone starts promisingly, they begin well but often fail in the end. [본문으로]
39. make progress ; 진행하다, 전진하다 ;; 진전을 보이다[이루다] ;; 진보하다, 진척되다 [본문으로]
40. rebalance ; [Verb] To balance again. [본문으로]
41. step something⇄up ; ~을 증가시키다[강화하다] ;; to increase the rate, level, amount, etc. of something [본문으로]
42. supercharge ; [타동사] 1. …에 지나치게 〔감정·힘 따위〕를 쏟다[with]. ;; [VERB] [tr] to increase the air intake pressure of (an internal-combustion engine) with a supercharger; boost [본문으로]
43. high crime ; (미국법) 중대한 범죄 ((연방 헌법에 규정된 대통령·부통령 등의 탄핵 사유가 되는 범죄)) [본문으로]
44. pinpoint ; 1. [타동사] (위치시간을) 정확히 찾아내다[보여주다] ;; 2. [타동사] 이유를 정확히 집어내다; 정확히 기술[묘사]하다 ;; [VERB] If you pinpoint the cause of something, you discover or explain the cause exactly. [본문으로]
45. neighborhood ; 3. 주위; (어떤 특징을 가진) 지역, 지방 [본문으로]
46. deploy ; 2. [타동사] (격식) 효율적으로 사용하다 [본문으로]
47. potential benefit ; 잠재적 이득, 이윤, 이익 [본문으로]
48. educate ; 1. [타동사][VN] [흔히 수동태로] 교육하다 [본문으로]
49. of today ; 현대의, 오늘날의 [본문으로]
50. of tomorrow ; 내일의, 미래의 [본문으로]
51. beneficial use ; 유용한 사용, 유효 활용 [본문으로]
52. involvement ; [U]말려들기, 휩쓸려 들기, 연루(連累), 빼지도 박지도 못하는 관계; [C]곤란한 일, 성가심; 재정 곤란 ;; [NOUN] [oft N in/with n] Your involvement in something is the fact that you are taking part in it. [본문으로]
53. interconnect ; [타동사] [동사] ~ (A) (with B) | ~ A and B (비슷한 것끼리) 서로 연결하다[관련되다] ;; [자동사] 서로 연결[연락]하다. ;; [VERB] Things that interconnect or are interconnected are connected to or with each other. You can also say that one thing interconnects with another. [본문으로]
54. sell something⇄on ;; ~을 되팔다 ;; to sell something to somebody else that you have bought not long before, usually in order to make a profit [본문으로]
55. establish[build up, develop] trust[confidence] ;; 신뢰를 쌓다 [본문으로]
56. conversational ; 3. (컴퓨터) 대화형의 ;; [ADJ] Conversational means relating to, or similar to, casual and informal talk. [본문으로]
57. aim sth at sb/sth ; if you aim something at a particular person or group, you do or say something that you intend to have an effect on them [본문으로]
58. decipher ; [타동사][VN] 판독[해독]하다 ; 참조 indecipherable ;; 미국∙영국 [dɪˈsaɪfə(r)] [본문으로]
59. granny (드물게 gran·nie) ;; ((pl. -ies)) (비격식) 할머니; 외할머니 ; 참조 grandma [본문으로]
60. guidance ; [U] 1. ~ (on sth) (특히 연장자·경력자에 의한) 지도[안내] ; 참조 marriage guidance [본문으로]
61. cinematic ; 영화의, 영화에 관한; 영화적인 ;; [ADJ] Cinematic means relating to films made for the cinema. [본문으로]
62. hijack ; 3. …에게(…하도록) 강요[강제]하다[into doing]. [본문으로]
63. contribute to sth ; to help to cause something [본문으로]
64. moral ; 3. 도덕적으로 옳은, 도덕적인 ; 유의어 good, honourable ; 참조 amoral, immoral ;; 미국식 [ˈmɔːr-; ˈmɑːr-] 영국식 [ˈmɒrəl] [본문으로]
65. put sth into sth ; to add a quality to something [본문으로]
66. be bent on sth/doing sth ; (보통 안 좋은 일에) 작정을 하고 덤비는 ;; 여념이 없다, 기를 쓰고 ~하다; 참조 hell-bent ;; be determined to do or have something [본문으로]
67. primary goal ; 주목적, 제1목표, 주된 목표 [본문으로]
68. norm ; 1. [sing.] 흔히 the norm 표준, 일반적인 것 ; 유의어 rule [본문으로]
69. make use of sb/sth ; ~을 이용[활용]하다 ;; [동사] …을 이용하다; …로 덕보다. ; 유의어 employ; benefit from. ;; use somebody/something for your own advantage [본문으로]