Thanks for taking time and sharing these very interesting insights. it is very useful to see things through the three layers you framed here. When I say that we should level the playing field for data I mostly think about the first two levels. First, we need to find new ways to force companies to reveal more data around their production practice — whether these are auto makers or insurance companies. This will come anyway: I believe ‘industrial secret’ to be in its dying phase so what I am offering here is a more structured model for companies to disclose ‘voluntarily ‘ theur data.

Also data use through modeling is relevant. Here I would not care at all to know what kind of ML model Nike has used to suggest to me exactly the shoes I need at exactly the right moment. I should not care — beyond human curiosity, that is — because these models’ parameters are unique to that particular event and could not be used as they are for my craving of a cake, for example. However, the civil society should work on the capacity of individual to access a facility/tool that would solve the complex problem of estimating a ML model for them. This model would use data coming from the producing side and yield a better decision by me whether to use or not use/buy or not buy that product. This is what I am exploring with the model I describe in my book (btw if you tell me where I can send it to you, I will).

The third layer you describe is the most difficult one but I think if we get to a society where data on production and distribution are more readily available and processed through advanced models that yield consumers the info they need to take a decision we would be already in a better world.