Roundtable: Who Owns Our Data—and What Are We Giving Away?

​Our data is constantly being collected and used—but are we aware of the real cost? 

​Join Shaf Choudry for a roundtable exploring how our personal data intersects with Islamic principles of privacy, ownership, and dignity. In this engaging fishbowl-style discussion, we’ll ask: How do we balance the convenience of AI with our values? 

​Together, we’ll unpack how we can navigate data privacy in a way that respects our rights without compromising our digital engagement and unknowingly empowering big tech.

​Key Discussion Points:

• ​How do Islam’s objectives of protecting dignity (ie; privacy) and property (ie; copyright) apply to our digital data?

• ​Are younger generations more willing to give away their data to tech giants, and what does this mean for the future of privacy?

• ​How is AI training data being gathered, and how can we ensure our data isn’t being used against us?

​Who Should Attend:

• ​Muslims concerned about their digital privacy and ownership rights

• ​Anyone working in tech, data, or AI and interested in ethical approaches to privacy

• ​Creators, innovators, and activists looking to challenge big tech’s dominance

​Shaf Choudry is a technologist with 15+ years’ experience across development, product, and programme management in everything from banking to startups. In 2017, he co-founded The Riz Test and The Seen on Screen Institute—big data projects tracking Muslim representation in media. He sits on the board at Open Data Manchester and has contributed to the book I Refuse to Condemn, with a chapter on racial bias in AI. He will soon launch a book on how biased AI systems disproportionately affect Muslims.

​Seats are limited. Participants will be hand-selected to ensure a meaningful and thought-provoking discussion.