Advertising-driven “attention economy” services reinforce an overused, but pithy, quotation that “If you’re not paying for the product, you are not the customer; you are the product being sold”. Regardless of the contested truth of that statement, the popularity of the sentiment reflects a public perception that the relationship between consumers and those using their data is in some way broken.

Is it possible to reformulate the relationship between data-oriented companies and public bodies and the customers whose data they use? According to a recent collaboration between the WEF and the City of Helsinki, yes.

Digital economies function using at least three critical elements: The easy movement of information; the easy movement of money; and the rigorous management of identity. Founded in 2009, Boku is no newcomer to the world of mobile payments and has expertise in at least two of those three areas. So, when the opportunity arose to speak with Mark Stannard, Boku’s Chief Business Officer, 6GWorld™ leapt at the chance.