Panel Statement

Panel: Bio-creation of Informatics: Rethinking Data Ecosystems in the Network Economy

Keywords: Internet Policy, Human Rights, Data Infrastructures, Freedom of Expression, Privacy, Inclusion, Copyright, Cell Phone Databases, Citizen Engagement, Advocacy

This paper is one of the contributions to an academic panel titled: “Bio-creation of informatics: Rethinking data ecosystems in the network economy”. The panel seeks to explore different approaches for trans-disciplinary media art and design practitioners in re-imagining data ecosystems and at the same time engaging members of the general public to reflect and contribute to an inclusive discourse that may re-shape public policy surrounding data ecosystems , from the lenses of ownership, privacy, transparency, openness and choice of individuals. The panel is moderated, coauthored and edited by Catalina Alzate.

The public policies that encourage the implementation of infrastructures for data management are mostly adopted by governments with great technological enthusiasm, leaving aside the notion of human rights and potential effects for freedom of expression, privacy, inclusion and security of citizens’. The government of Colombia encourages spaces for citizens’ participation like public consultations, in order to include people in the design of polices that can dramatically modify the way they interact with other citizens and with the state.
In this paper two examples that look at policy for data infrastructures will be discussed for researchers and information artists interested in public interventions and engagement. The discussion around the copyright reform, as part of the implementation of the FTA (Free-Trade Agreement) of Colombia with the United States. 2) The implementation of cell phone registry as part of the strategy against mobile theft in Colombia. As a civil society organization, our advocacy strategy has included creating or taking advantage of participative spaces to introduce new narratives into public policy.

• Pilar Sáenz (Bogotá, Colombia) is a physicist by training and activist by vocation. Pilar is a free software, open technology and open culture enthusiast, working in areas related to education and technology. As project manager of Karisma Foundation, she has been engaged in several strategic projects on access to knowledge, privacy and security, internet governance, Social Innovation, freedom of expression, and gender perspectives.

Full text (PDF) p. 609-612