Opinion: Data privacy was a red herring. We need to be paid for our data

We've spent the past two years fighting and eventually solving the wrong problem. Privacy was a red herring. We are all data poor and need to become data rich. We need to be paid for our data. Naturally, the AI industry is resisting.

Rather than attempting to legislate the output of AI models, focus should be on data ownership rights and individuals getting paid for their data. This is crucial to avoid economic asymmetries resulting from technological shifts.

New legislation supporting data ownership is emerging globally. Examples include California's data dividend proposal, U.S. Own Your Own Data Act, and Brazil's Data Empowerment Act.

While big publishers and celebrities are asserting their data rights through licenses and lawsuits, the protection of data for ordinary individuals remains unaddressed, highlighting the need for advocacy and legal support for data ownership.

Read at www.mercurynews.com