Colonialismo de datos en el VIII censo de población, VII de viviendas y I de comunidades en el Ecuador

Abstract

The 2022 Population, Housing, and Communities Census aims to provide key information regarding population composition and distribution, as well as their socioeconomic characteristics, to facilitate the formulation and execution of public policies, programs, and projects in both the public and private sectors. This census employed a mixed methodology as a preliminary step towards transitioning to a census based on administrative records. The implementation of this mixed approach has raised several questions regarding data collection methods, the technology used, the types of questions asked, and data privacy. This research examines the construction and execution process of the most recent population census and its connection to the phenomenon of data colonialism. Adopting a qualitative approach and using a grounded theory-based methodological design, an exhaustive analysis of the 2022 census process was conducted through document review and semi-structured interviews. The results indicate that the socio-technical trajectory of the census comprises three phases: traditional census, census based on administrative records, and mixed census. The main controversies surrounding the census include discussions on the appropriate methodology, the challenges of conducting the census post-pandemic, and data protection and privacy. It is noted that the socio-technical alliance responsible for implementing the census emphasized only the positive aspects of the mixed methodology. The role of technology and the power relations among the actors involved in the census formulation and execution were inferred, suggesting the establishment of data colonialism by transforming population data into commodities. This raises questions about how the collected data is used and who truly controls this information. Additionally, cybersecurity challenges that the country must address were identified.