Health data and global power inequalities: challenging the world data order

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v14i4.2243

Keywords:

Health data, Health-related data, Social externalities, Power, Human rights.

Abstract

Today’s global media infrastructures involve not just media, but the continual extraction and circulation of data across digital platforms, with health data being an important data domain. The extraction and use of health data raises particular human rights issues. This paper reviews, fist, the basic risks to individuals from unconstrained collection, use and transfer of their personal health data; second, the implications of the fast-growing health data sector for social power generally; and third, the wider implications if current trends related to commercial exploitation of personal health data are not interrupted. A new global debate is needed to address these trends and their basis in a highly unequal political economy which benefis the same countries that profied from historical colonialism. We articulate here — in new ways — the challenges addressed by the 1980 MacBride Report, but for a very differently confiured world.

Author Biographies

Nick Couldry, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Media and Communications. London,

Ph.D in Media and Communications by the University of London.

Ulises Ali Mejías, Professor of Communication at State University of New York, Oswego, USA.

Ed.D in Technology and Communication by Columbia University.

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Published

2020-12-17

How to Cite

Couldry, N., & Mejías, U. A. (2020). Health data and global power inequalities: challenging the world data order. Revista Eletrônica De Comunicação, Informação & Inovação Em Saúde, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v14i4.2243