Collective Power in Data Ownership: How Data Trusts Can Build Digital Equity

Data trusts, if designed inclusively, offer the possibility for communities to decide how their data is gathered and used, and to ensure that the AI systems that impact their lives are trained on data that is relevant to, and representative of, them. This session will bring together an informal network of participants to explore new models of collective and inclusive data governance. Participants will work in groups to share the unique perspectives, interests, and community engagements that they bring to the issue of data governance. Each group will develop a scenario and plan for a data trust implementation, weighing considerations such as standards and data interoperability, decision-making approaches, policies, and the role of technology. In this session we hope to raise awareness about the value of data trusts and build an expanded and diverse community of potential contributors to collaborative data governance initiatives moving forward.