In an era of rapid technological advancement, the lines between improved care, data surveillance, and profit have become increasingly complex. This conversation brings together experts and practitioners to examine how data is collected, shared, and used in the name of public health—and how those practices often deepen existing inequities. From genetic testing kits, wearable fitness trackers, and apps that manage pregnancy or mental health to digital medical records and predictive algorithms, panelists will explore how personal health information is weaponized or commodified, often without true consent or transparency. Together, we will ask: who really owns your health information—and who benefits from it? In a world where patients’ digital medical records are fifty times more valuable than financial information, what does consent look like when data is currency? And how can communities reclaim agency over their own bodies and information in systems that too often exclude or exploit them? 

The first event in the new (In)Justice Series on Data & Power invites participants to critically reflect on our most personal form of data, as well as the ethics, impact, and future of how we share and utilize it. Together, we will imagine alternative approaches rooted in justice, transparency, and care.

Presented in partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the Data Science and AI Hub.