The Data Leviathan: How Corporations Spy on Humans and Reduce Us to “Data Points”

There is no doubt that the Big Data revolution is no longer just a reflection of the global digital transformation of recent decades. It has evolved into a seismic force, fundamentally reshaping the very structures of knowledge, economy, and politics.

Data has transcended its status as a mere byproduct of human activity to become a strategic capital, arguably surpassing the value of oil and gas. Unlike finite traditional resources, data is a renewable, infinitely expandable asset—it does not deplete with use. This has cemented the adage that data is the new gold, the most influential currency in the modern knowledge economy, one that is actively redefining global power dynamics and the relationships between nations, corporations, societies, and individuals.

The numbers illustrating this explosion are staggering. In 2019, the global datasphere reached 41 zettabytes (a zettabyte equals one billion terabytes). By 2022, it had skyrocketed to 101 zettabytes. As we approach the end of 2025, estimates suggest that 463 exabytes of data will be generated every single day—a stark contrast to the mere 59 zettabytes produced in the entire year of 2020.

This vertiginous growth means that in just five years, the world has produced more data than in all of prior human history. We are witnessing an unprecedented knowledge boom. However, the true value lies not in the sheer volume, but in the capability to transform this digital deluge into actionable knowledge and insights for decision-making and shaping the future.

This is where Artificial Intelligence emerges as the essential engine of the revolution, providing the capacity to analyze data, uncover hidden patterns, and generate proactive predictions. Economic forecasts suggest AI could add nearly $19.9 trillion to the global economy by 2030, equivalent to 3.5% of global GDP. Consequently, investing in data is no longer a luxury or a secondary option; it is a strategic imperative for survival in the international competitive race. The future will not belong to those who possess natural resources alone, but to those who can extract meaning from numbers and convert it into decisive action.

At the heart of this revolution, key technological trends are redrawing the global map of data management:

• Real-time analytics now enable instantaneous decisions in markets and supply chains.
• Edge computing minimizes latency for critical applications like the Internet of Things and autonomous vehicles.
• Privacy-enhancing technologies, such as differential privacy and homomorphic encryption, have become essential tools for protecting information in an environment where security breaches pose a sovereign threat.
• Synthetic data is increasingly used to train algorithms without exposing sensitive personal information.
• On the horizon, quantum computing promises to overturn the very paradigms of data analysis, with its potential to process mathematical complexities far beyond the reach of traditional computers.

Yet, this revolution is not merely technical or economic; it carries profound geopolitical and ethical dimensions. Whoever owns the data, owns the power. Whoever controls its flow, charts the maps of influence. Tech behemoths like Google, Amazon, Alibaba, and Microsoft have become power centers parallel to, and in some domains surpassing, nation-states. They control global information flows and manage digital spaces inhabited by billions.

This has given rise to legitimate fears that political power is no longer the exclusive domain of governments. It is now distributed among transnational economic entities capable of influencing public opinion, policy decisions, and even election outcomes. The United States and China stand at the apex of this digital hegemony, their rivalry resembling a new “data cold war.” Meanwhile, Europe is attempting to carve its own path through stringent regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), aiming to protect privacy and curb corporate overreach. This is a battle of values and sovereignty as much as it is of technology, one that will define the identity and ethics of cyberspace.

These transformations pose philosophical and humanistic questions as pressing as the economic and political challenges they present:

• Do companies have the right to track users’ every move and turn it into a commodity?
• To what extent can we accept the reduction of a human being to a mere “data point” within a vast algorithm that determines their future employment, education, or eligibility for a bank loan?
• How do we strike the right balance between innovation and privacy, and between security and freedom?

The human being has become the very subject of data, living inside an invisible matrix of algorithms that steer decisions and shape behavior, often without their direct conscious awareness. This presents a new paradigm that redefines the relationship between humanity, technology, and freedom.

Supporting this data explosion is a massive physical infrastructure of giant data centers spanning continents. These facilities consume vast amounts of energy, presenting growing environmental challenges. Data centers are already responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions, making the transition to renewable energy an urgent priority. Without it, the digital deluge risks transforming from a knowledge opportunity into a heavy environmental burden that threatens climatic balance.

The Arab World at a Crossroads

In the Arab world, the picture is even more complex. Most countries in the region are net consumers of data rather than producers, relying on foreign platforms and servers, which leaves them hostage to external technological dependence. Conversely, the region holds a unique opportunity due to its youthful demographic; over half the population is under 30. This is a massive human resource base that, if equipped with digital knowledge and technical skills, could be transformative.

The central challenge lies in translating this potential into homegrown creativity and innovative initiatives, rather than leaving it as a passive consumer base for foreign applications. The gravest threat is the persistence of the digital divide, which results in Arab data being stored and managed on servers located outside the region. This deprives Arab nations of sovereignty over their own digital wealth.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to build “Arab Data Sovereignty” through:

1. Establishing regional data centers powered by renewable energy.
2. Enacting robust data protection legislation that reflects local values and interests.
3. Fostering startups in fields like AI and cybersecurity.
4. Creating regional alliances in the data economy capable of competing with global monopolies.

The Big Data revolution is not a passing technical trend; it is a profound redefinition of sovereignty, power, and wealth in the 21st century. Those who possess data hold the capacity to shape the future; those who do not will remain followers in the new world order.

The Arab region stands at a crossroads: it can remain a marginal consumer in the data economy, or it can transform into a key player by boldly investing in its digital infrastructure and forging strong links between data, education, innovation, and technological sovereignty. This is a historical moment no less significant than the discovery of oil in the last century. But this time, the opportunity is built on an inexhaustible resource that renews and expands daily, granting its owner the power to redefine strength, wealth, and knowledge simultaneously.

The future of the Arab world may well be written in lines of code and data. However, this future is conditional on the region’s ability to manage this digital wealth with rationality and strategic vision—ensuring it does not merely become a digital surplus, consumed without lasting impact or meaning.

Support Dawat Media Center

If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Dawat Media Center from as little as $/€10 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you
DNB Bank AC # 0530 2294668
Account for international payments: NO15 0530 2294 668
Vipps: #557320

  Donate Here