Fábio Rua, coordinator of the ABES Regulatory Committee, is leading the campaign
Initiative debates the importance of intelligent use of data for citizenship and social and economic development
Launched by ABES in May 2016, the Brasil, País Digital campaign has gained visibility among society and public bodies. First, by creating a Portal and, later, with the launch of a page in the Facebook, in July, and presentations at events.
Given the growing interest of Brazilian society in the campaign, with around 80 thousand followers on Facebook, ABES decided to expand it. For 2017, communication with different audiences will be intensified and there will be more actions in digital media, including the production of educational videos, the promotion of online and in-person events, in addition to the creation of a Twitter profile and a YouTube channel. Increasing the number of participants, interactions and engagement are some of the entity's objectives.
“This initiative was created to make the understanding of technical topics related to data management and its benefits more accessible. We believe that we managed to make the discussion viral and ensure that civil society participated in this debate, which is a subject that is as or more critical than the civil framework of the internet”, evaluates Fábio Rua, coordinator of the ABES Regulatory Committee and who is leading the campaign. This is a discussion that involves the entire society, as each and every individual will be positively or negatively impacted by regulations that may make their lives easier or impede access to the most varied information.
Fábio Rua explains that, based on a greater awareness of the use of data, people will feel more comfortable debating other issues that derive from this discussion, such as the internet of things, blockchain, artificial intelligence and all other advances technologies that impact people's lives. “All the technologies that are available to society today have evolved a lot over the years, with many possibilities for developing tools that make life easier for citizens. Cognitive computing, for example, is there to support the process of diagnosing a series of diseases or to contribute to improvements in city management, urban mobility, in the ways of establishing relationships, fostering an increasingly direct and seamless communication. borders”, he explained.
data protection law
For Brazil to move forward, it is necessary to pass a Brazilian law for the protection of personal data, which ensures the fundamental right to privacy and, at the same time, does not make data-based innovations unfeasible and guarantees their free flow across borders. Still in Rua's assessment, it is essential that an independent regulatory body be created and that there be a reasonable period for adapting to the new law.
“First of all, it is necessary to recognize that a law for the protection of personal data is fundamental for Brazil, to guarantee the dissemination of new technologies in different sectors. And we have increasingly felt the government's openness and willingness to understand and advance the regulatory process in a balanced way that does not jeopardize the development of innovative business models”, pointed out Fábio. He highlighted, however, that the Brazil, Digital Country campaign aims to make the population aware of the benefits of using data, regardless of whether the issue is related to the approval of the law, under discussion in the National Congress.
“We note that time cannot be used as an excuse to pass any law quickly. There are a number of issues that need to be addressed and we need to involve society in a broader debate. Although the government has provided an opportunity for popular participation, there are many complex technical aspects involved. It is essential to transform technical information for the population, allowing people to understand how data collection and analysis impact their daily lives, which we are doing with our campaign,” said Fábio.
Digital transformation of public management
The Brasil, País Digital initiative was launched at a very opportune moment, due to the growing interest of the Federal Government in promoting the digital transformation of its services, in order to increase transparency, enable access to public services through digital platforms. and improve communication with the population. “There are barriers to integrating and managing databases in government, but they are not insurmountable. We have a good example coming from the United States, where there is a coordinating body that manages, conducts investments and reports directly to the president, in some situations”, evaluated Fábio.
Another ABES goal for 2017 is to attract more partners to the campaign, such as class entities, universities, think tanks and even government agencies, which will add quality content to the debate and mobilize more people, companies and institutions.
Currently, Brazil, País Digital already has the following institutional partners: ABIIS (Brazilian Alliance of the Innovative Health Industry), Assespro (Association of Information Technology Companies), Brasscom (Brazilian Association of Information and Communication Technology Companies), BSA - The Software Aliance, FENAINFO (National Federation of Computer Companies), Brazilian Institute of Digital Law, ITI Decodes (Information Technology Industry Council), ABRANET – Brazilian Internet Association and IAB Brazil – Interactive Advertising Bureau.
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