Data Circle and Agora 41 present 5 proposals for responsible digital technologies

What is the connection between “data” and “living things”? At first glance it seems paradoxical, but this connection has actually been established. Because digital data is not virtual and develops in a technological environment that is not limitless.

Indeed, today’s research highlights the negative consequences of mass processing of this data on living beings, from the most expected to the most unexpected:

– depletion of natural resources (with constantly growing electricity consumption);

– pressure on natural spaces and their biodiversity (with the construction of more and more data centers, voracious in relation to land and water);

– weakening of human health (exposure to screens promoting a sedentary lifestyle, sleep disturbances, cognitive exhaustion, emotional dysregulation, etc.).

If you think about it, Gabor’s law, according to which “what can be done technically will be done,” is not inevitable, and another model is possible: a model of a “responsible” digital world, where the authorities will protect the public. , for example, by examining digital products/services before they are placed on the market to ensure that their impact on living beings is “thought out” and balanced by guarantees or restrictions on use.

Is there still time to react? “Yes,” say the Data Circle and Agora 41 members who wrote the study, the result of several years of work. Serious routes exist if you are brave.

Approach: Define, discuss and propose.
True to their beliefs that a better understanding of the concepts associated with the digital universe is central to civilizational renewal, the Data Circle and Agora 41 wanted to frame their reflections on the impact of data on people’s lives in the form of in-depth research. a study, as it was in 2022, on the topic of digital sovereignty (“Digital Sovereignty: An Essay for Conquest”).

Thus, by remembering the importance of data, they demonstrate that, despite its supposed insignificance, data has a real impact on both the environment and health.
Once this documented observation has been made, the authors formulate five strong propositions for policymakers as well as economic actors and citizens.

“This study is intended for all those who share the urgency of regaining control over irresponsible digital technologies and wish to correct the current trajectory by choosing a thoughtful use of digital data,” summarizes Jean Martineau, vice president of the Cercle de la Data, who coordinated this study.

This work will be presented to a group of parliamentarians and will be the topic of a conference at the Institut Diderot. More presentations and debates are planned to raise awareness of the topic, raise awareness among decision-makers and, more broadly, combat citizen apathy.