In Consideration of Indigenous Data Sovereignty: Data Mining as a Colonial Practice

Abstract: Data mining reproduces colonialism, and Indigenous voices are being left out of the development of technology that relies on data, such as artificial intelligence. This research stresses the need for the inclusion of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and centers on the importance of Indigenous rights over their own data. Inclusion is necessary in order to integrate Indigenous knowledge into the design, development, and implementation of data-reliant technology. To support this hypothesis and address the problem, the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) are applied. We cover how the colonial practices of data mining do not align with Indigenous convictions. The included case studies highlight connections to Indigenous rights in relation to the protection of data and environmental ecosystems, thus establishing how data governance can serve both the people and the Earth. By applying the CARE Principles to the issues that arise from data mining and neocolonialism, our goal is to provide a framework that can be used in technological development. The theory is that this could reflect outwards to promote data sovereignty generally and create new relationships between people and data that are ethical as opposed to driven by speed and profit.