America's Growing Data Divide

A recent report by Daniel Castro titled, "The Rise of Data Poverty in America," outlines the social and economic inequalities manifested from a lack of data collection or reporting about an individual or community. Castro begins with a poignant example of childbirth— when leaving the hospital, some children will have generated 200 million data points, while others merely leave with an inked footprint on paper, but no digital markers.

Castro urges that policymakers today address the data divide splitting the United States. Indeed, as Castro writes, "if this trend towards a data divide continues we might even see the rise of 'data deserts'— areas of the country characterized by a lack of access to high-quality data that may be used to generate social and economic benefits."

Some steps to achieve this, according to Castro, are to ensure funding programs consider the impact on data poverty, continue data literacy programs, and encourage civic leaders in low-income neighborhoods to integrate technological solutions into their grant programs.