Data as an Asset: China’s New Factor of Production

Key Points

1. Personal data, such as telephone numbers, email accounts, and passwords, is frequently leaked and sold on the black market, with prices ranging from $20 to $100 per set in 2024.

2. Compromised accounts of popular services like Gmail, Facebook, and Instagram are widely available, with prices varying from $25 to $60, while financial and crypto exchange accounts can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.

3. Biometric identifiers, such as digitized facial images and voice data, are in growing demand, with prices ranging from $5 to $100 per record.

4. China is implementing large-scale data management projects, moving away from Western norms, with the goal of creating a 'national ocean of data'.

5. The article notes that many countries are grappling with data management and control issues, with the EU potentially updating GDPR rules and the Trump administration considering similar measures.