Data solidarity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI)

Abstract This chapter explores the concept of data solidarity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the need for governance frameworks that prioritize collective welfare and the equitable distribution of benefits and harms. It critiques the inadequacy of current data governance models rooted in ‘paper age’ thinking, which fail to address the relational and systemic nature of digital data. By applying the design principles of solidarity that the author developed in Chapter 2—respect for equal dignity, indirect reciprocity, and non-humiliation—to the governance of digital practices and infrastructures, the chapter proposes a layered governance model that balances individual, community, and societal stakes in data. It challenges the dominance of market-driven approaches, advocating for democratic control, commons-based governance, and public-interest-driven policies. Ultimately, the chapter calls for a reimagining of digital infrastructures and AI ethics to create societies where the risks of AI are minimized, and its benefits are shared equitably.