Bryan Pon

Co-founder, Caribou Data

I’m a social science researcher focused on understanding how people in the Global South use digital products and services.

My organization does traditional field research interviewing users and conducting interactive sessions. But to really understand digital activity, your methods need to also be digital, so we’ve launched a new data analytics service that is based on anonymous data from representative panels of users.

Our belief is that it’s possible to do data analytics in a way that is privacy-preserving, fair, and transparent, and we hope to establish our model as an ethical alternative to the deceptive and extractive methods practiced by most personal data firms.

I was introduced to MyData from my work at the Sovrin Foundation, where I sit on the board and lead efforts to ensure the network is as inclusive and accessible as possible.