BRICS Targets Data Colonialism, Demands Fair AI Compensation Globally

The BRICS group of nations has issued a landmark call for the establishment of robust data protection frameworks to shield against the unauthorized use of information by artificial intelligence systems. Culminating in the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, leaders from the expanded bloc, now representing a significant portion of the world's population and economy, are advocating for a new global standard in AI governance.[1][2][3] The move is widely seen as a direct challenge to the dominance of Western technology giants and a foundational step toward a more equitable and multipolar digital world order. The core of the BRICS proposal, outlined in a draft statement and formalized at their summit in Rio, centers on preventing the excessive and uncompensated collection of data used to train AI models.[4][5][6] This initiative seeks to create mechanisms for fair payment to creators and countries whose data fuels the multi-billion dollar AI industry, a direct response to the long-standing practice of tech firms, largely based in wealthier nations, resisting calls for copyright and licensing fees for training data.[7][8][5]

At the heart of the BRICS declaration is a push for a more just and development-oriented approach to AI governance, explicitly countering what critics term "data colonialism."[7][9][10] This concept refers to the practice of corporations and entities, primarily from the Global North, extracting vast amounts of data from developing nations without fair compensation or consent, mirroring historical colonial exploitation of raw materials.[9][10][11] The data, ranging from copyrighted works to user-generated content, is then used to build and refine proprietary AI systems, with the economic benefits largely concentrated in the home countries of these tech firms.[9] Examples of this dynamic include AI surveillance technologies disproportionately targeting communities in the Global South and algorithms trained on biased datasets that perpetuate inequalities rooted in colonial history.[9] The BRICS statement argues that without systemic change, the AI revolution threatens to widen the digital and economic divide, leaving developing nations as mere data sources for the enrichment of foreign companies.[7] To prevent this, the bloc proposes concrete measures, including mandatory licensing fees for copyrighted material, explicit consent for data usage in AI training, and greater transparency to ensure fairness and accountability.[7][8]

The geopolitical implications of the BRICS stance are significant, positioning the bloc as a collective voice for the Global South and a counterweight to Western-led AI governance frameworks, such as those discussed by the G7.[9][12] Where G7 conversations have often centered on AI safety and mitigating misinformation, the BRICS agenda prioritizes digital sovereignty, fair competition, and economic justice.[7] The declaration calls for the United Nations to take a central role in establishing global rules for AI, ensuring that any framework is inclusive and prevents standards from becoming barriers to market entry for smaller economies.[13][14] This move is not just about technology; it is intertwined with broader BRICS objectives, including reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar and hedging against the "weaponization of finance."[6][15] The initiative has already drawn sharp reactions, with former U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to impose additional tariffs on any country aligning with what he termed the "Anti-American policies" of the BRICS group, underscoring the high stakes of this emerging geopolitical contest over the future of technology.[16][17][14]

Ultimately, the BRICS call for data protection and fair compensation marks a pivotal moment in the global dialogue on artificial intelligence.[12] By championing a model of AI governance that is development-focused and respectful of national sovereignty, the bloc is not seeking to stifle innovation but to ensure its benefits are distributed more equitably.[13] The Rio Declaration is more than a statement; it is the opening move in a bid to rebalance the global digital order, demanding that the rights and contributions of the Global South are not just acknowledged but are central to the architecture of the coming AI age.[15] This push for a UN-led, multilateral response grounded in equity sets the stage for a complex and potentially contentious period of negotiation that will shape the legal, ethical, and economic landscape of artificial intelligence for years to come.[14][18]