Does the modern world need an independent “data economy”?

In this interview, Green CEO Roger Süess sits down to discuss the need for an independent “data economy” and the challenges and opportunities associated with it.

Roger Süess, the “building sector”, “agriculture”, “public transport”, etc. are all recognized, established and, to a certain extent, clearly defined branches of industry. Given the modern world we live in, shouldn’t there also be something like a “data economy”?
 

That’s an interesting question. The fact that most users make their data freely available online is the reason why the internet is a thriving marketplace. If we look at cell phones, for example, most users tend to avoid subscribing to and paying for applications. Clicks and personal data are used to pay for most apps. However, this data is increasingly becoming an asset that merits protecting. People seriously need to consider and decide what they want to disclose and what they want to protect. The fact that only a tiny amount of a person’s data is required to generate a digital profile is particularly significant.

Also, given the emergence of AI, this begs the question as to whether there isn’t an explicit need for something like an official “data economy” to outline the areas where data sovereignty might apply, to indicate what basic protection might be necessary without being too overbearing and to show where I could have the option of protecting myself, using my data exclusively or making it available to others. The real question we have to ask is how should individuals, as well as the state and companies, handle data, and where should we draw the line?

The digital transformation is making its mark in industry, in robotics and in all service companies. And, going forward, it will become even more visible in areas such as healthcare, mobility and energy supply. The fact remains, however, that it is not emerging as a separate, all-encompassing branch of industry. Our society only functions with data, and without it we would be lost. I believe that we should attach special importance, and much greater social and political importance, to the handling of data in the future.