Data Governance & Privacy
How personal and public data is collected, used, and protected — including surveillance, data sovereignty, and the rights of individuals and communities over their own information.
Trajectory
Erosion of protection
Main driver
Data controlled by tech giants; national-only standards
Leading actors
Tech giants; national governments
State in 2040
Protection largely dismantled
The concentration of data control remains with large tech companies, cementing unequal power relations, particularly between the Global North and South. Data availability and quality increase as new financial incentive models for creating high-quality content are established. Data protection remains a critical issue but is addressed nationally rather than through international standards.