The Political Economy of Data Ownership: Legal Design of Digital Property Rights in Platform-Based Capitalism
Keywords:
Data ownership, platform capitalism, digital property rights, political economy, digital governance, data governance, information economy, market power, legal designAbstract
This article investigates the transformation of data into the core asset of contemporary capitalism and examines the legal, economic, and political consequences of this shift within platform-based economies. The study argues that existing legal frameworks governing data ownership remain structurally misaligned with the realities of data-driven accumulation, allowing digital platforms to consolidate unprecedented control over markets, labor relations, and informational infrastructures. Through a narrative review and descriptive–analytical methodology, the article synthesizes interdisciplinary scholarship from political economy, law, and digital governance to expose the limitations of current legal classifications that treat data as personal right, intellectual property, or contractual asset without articulating a coherent ownership architecture. The analysis demonstrates how these fragmented approaches legitimize asymmetric power relations, reinforce monopolistic market structures, and undermine democratic accountability in the digital economy. The article further explores alternative models of digital property design, including collective governance frameworks, public-interest data infrastructures, and hybrid ownership regimes, and evaluates their capacity to rebalance economic power, protect individual autonomy, and preserve social welfare. By situating data ownership within broader struggles over sovereignty, market regulation, and social justice, the study highlights the political economy consequences of legal design choices and their impact on innovation, competition, and institutional legitimacy. The article concludes that reconstructing data ownership is not merely a technical regulatory task but a foundational project for shaping the future trajectory of platform capitalism and for ensuring that digital transformation advances collective prosperity, democratic governance, and long-term economic sustainability.
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