Author: Haolin Chen
“Data scientists are involved with gathering data, massaging it into a tractable form, making it tell its story, and presenting that story to others.”
Mike Loukides, VP, O’Reilly Media
In the age of digitization, data has become an integral part of our lives. However, while businesses and corporations unlock enormous value from this data, the question arises: are individuals truly benefiting from their own digital footprint?
During the period as a data scientist intern at DiDi, a leading multi-modal transportation platform and a formidable competitor to Uber, I was deeply immersed in the world of data.. To quote Mike Loukides, VP, O’Reilly Media, “Data scientists are involved with gathering data, massaging it into a tractable form, making it tell its story, and presenting that story to others.” But a thought constantly bothered at me: Why not let data present its story directly to the individuals it represents?
My responsibilities at DiDi largely revolved around analyzing data from the driver’s side to fuel business strategies with pivotal insights. It was fascinating to see how adeptly businesses operate data to drive profits and shape behavior. Platforms like DiDi gather extensive information about their users, crafting precise user profiles, sometimes understanding users’ habits better than the users themselves.
However, there’s an underlying issue. Data, in its essence, is powerful, but its processing is often shrouded in mystery for the general public. Thanks to regulations like the GDPR, there’s a check on unwarranted invasion of user privacy. Nowadays, you can download your personal data from big tech companies, I saw a vision to break the data isolation.
While working on data analytics, a constant thought emerged: Is there an entity committed to preserving user data integrity? In the current business landscape, data undergoes collection, analysis, and application across different platforms, escalating risks related to personal information leaks. Moreover, users rarely experience the direct convenience and benefits their data can offer.
This understanding led to my vision: Establishing a Personal Data Center for every individual. A paradigm where data serves its rightful owner – the user. A system where each person becomes the controller and processor of their data, balancing corporate power over sensitive personal information. This would not only reduce unwarranted advertisements and spam but also empower users to truly harness the potential of their data.
This vision isn’t merely a concept. I’ve dedicated significant time and resources toward understanding the feasibility, challenges, and potential solutions for a Personal Data Center. When I started in Nov 2020, as a graduate, I was kind of lost and had no idea how to start, I wrote a business plan to apply to my master’s program in Europe. Now I am a Data Science Master student in the EIT(Europe Institution of Innovation and Technology) Digital program. I am confident and ready to dive into the AI generation.
In a world driven by data, the true power must return to the individuals. The journey has just begun, but with collective effort and understanding, the dawn of a new era of personal data empowerment isn’t far off.
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