Living well with data: stewardship as a just and viable paradigm
In this report, Reema Patel argues for a fundamental shift in mindset to address deep-seated challenges in data governance. The report maps ten different mental models, ie ways of thinking about data governance, and demonstrates that many are failing. In the report, Reema proposes Data Stewardship as the foundational ‘meta-mental model’ for a just and viable future.
The report proposes a new, relational approach to data – through stewardship. Data Stewardship reframes data not as a resource (or ‘the new oil’), but as a relationship and a ‘living system’ or ‘the new soil’ that requires continuous, reflexive care. This approach grounds data governance in ethical responsibility, collective benefit, and long-term relational care, rejecting extractive or colonial logics.
It highlights the failure of current mental models for thinking about data. There is a failure in data governance, demonstrated by the ongoing data trust deficit, public concern, systemic bias in AI datasets, and repeated governance failures. The growth in data collection and AI capability has outstripped outdated mental models of data ownership, data control and data technocracy, rooted in historic logics of feudalism and colonialism.
About the author
Reema Patel
Director, Elgon Social Research
Reema Patel leads Elgon Social Research, a research agency providing bespoke insight, advice and support. Reema’s work has a focus on technology, data and AI ethics, public engagement and participation, and equity. She co-founded the Ada Lovelace Institute where she worked on public engagement and participation between 2014 and 2022.
Reema is also a member of the Bank of England’s Central Bank Digital Currency Engagement Forum and is Senior Fellow of the Finance Innovation Lab.
Reema leads the policy and public engagement work of the Digital Good Network.