15th Cetic.br Workshop debates the integration of emerging data and new technologies in surveys

Event brought together experts from organizations such as UNESCO, Cepal, UNSD, ITU, World Bank, IMF, WHO, and Statistics Institutes from various Latin American countries to discuss the future of statistics production in a digital transformation scenario

São Paulo, September 1st – The Regional Center for the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) of the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br), in partnership with the National School of Statistical Sciences (ENCE/IBGE) and SCIENCE (Society for the Development of Scientific Survey), held the 15th Annual Workshop on Survey Methodology. The event, which took place from August 18 to 21 in São Paulo (SP), gathered representatives from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Cepal), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and national statistics offices from various countries such as Canada (StatCan) and Colombia (DANE).

With the theme “Integration is Key,” the meeting discussed how emerging data sources and new technologies, when used responsibly and transparently, can enhance survey practices and statistics production. In a context of rapid digital transformation, traditional data collection methods are being complemented by georeferenced data, artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and citizen-generated information. The aim of the workshop was to advance this discussion.

"The Internet infrastructure in Brazil is not only about technology, but also data. This workshop explored the frontier of knowledge in the area of survey methodologies: how to integrate innovations like Artificial Intelligence to assist in more precise and agile statistics production processes. Understanding the digital society based on robust evidence is what will allow us to build an inclusive and beneficial digital future for all Brazilians," stated Demi Getschko, President and Director of NIC.br.

Complementing the vision, Alexandre Barbosa, manager of Cetic.br/NIC.br, highlighted: "The integration of new data sources is a necessity for public statistics production on ICT to be timely, of high quality, and capable of reflecting the complexity of the digital society. This workshop reinforced the importance of collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector to advance methodologies that are innovative, ethical, and transparent. The challenge is to transform the immense volume of available data into knowledge that generates public value, and Cetic.br and NIC.br are committed to leading this discussion in Brazil and the region."

Highlights and discussions

The discussions delved into four main axes:

• Analysis of georeferenced data and AI use for image recognition.
• New approaches to measuring and evaluating digital skills.
• Analysis of data from digital platforms like social networks and e-commerce.
• Use of citizen-generated data as a source of contextual and real-time information.

In the opening lecture on Monday morning, Professor Trent Buskirk from Old Dominion University (USA) addressed the challenges and opportunities of using Big Data in the production of official statistics. He emphasized the importance of integrating new information sources with traditional survey sources, as well as the need to adopt innovative methodologies and solid data governance to ensure quality, transparency, and international comparability. Pedro Luís do Nascimento Silva from Science (Brazil) moderated the session.

In the panel Integration and Interoperability of Data, moderated by Marcelo Pitta (Cetic.br|NIC.br), Daniel Taccari (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean – UNECLAC, Chile) and Luis González Morales (United Nations Statistics Division – UNSD, USA) discussed topics on the adoption of standards and interoperable models and how they can favor integration between traditional and emerging data sources. The debate highlighted that, in the face of increasing unstructured information, it is important to advance in governance, common vocabularies, and collaborative strategies to ensure international quality and comparability of statistics, increasing their public value and strengthening evidence-based policy formulation.

During the session The Digital Data Triple Play, moderated by Fábio Senne (Cetic.br|NIC.br), Professor Trent Buskirk addressed the three central aspects of "Access, Evaluation, and Analysis" in the context of digital platform data applied to social surveys, emphasizing the growing importance of data from digital platforms and the need for specialized methods to handle them effectively.

Subsequently, the panel Using Digital Platform Data, led by Marina Mendes Tavares and Vladimir Klyuev, both from the International Monetary Fund (IMF, USA), focused on the collection, analysis, and strategic application of data originating from digital platforms, addressing topics such as data privacy, market dominance, regulatory frameworks for data access, and their economic implications for competition and innovation.

The event extended until Thursday, including courses that promoted an in-depth debate on best practices and new emerging methodological challenges. One course was dedicated to measuring digital skills, exploring the conceptual and methodological frameworks of DigComp, developed by the European Commission, as well as its connection with the recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Another course addressed the use of georeferenced data and image recognition techniques as innovative tools for collection and analysis in ICT surveys, highlighting the potential of such approaches to enhance the precision and comprehensiveness of studies in the field.

To view the full schedule of the 15th Annual Survey Methodology Workshop, visit: https://workshop.metodologia.cetic.br/

Watch the event's highlights video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ORIUgrqx9I

And check out the photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicbr/albums/72177720328624702

About Cetic.br
The Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) of NIC.br is responsible for producing indicators and statistics on Internet access and usage in Brazil, disseminating periodic analyses and information on network development in the country. Cetic.br|NIC.br is also a Regional Study Center under the auspices of UNESCO and will celebrate 20 years of operation in 2025. More information at https://cetic.br/.

About the Brazilian Network Information Center – NIC.br
The Brazilian Network Information Center – NIC.br (https://nic.br/) is a private, non-profit civil organization responsible for operating the .br domain, as well as distributing IP numbers and registering Autonomous Systems in the country. NIC.br implements the decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee - CGI.br since 2005, and all resources are derived from its activities, which are inherently private in nature. It conducts actions and projects that bring benefits to Brazil's Internet infrastructure. NIC.br includes: Registro.br (https://registro.br/), CERT.br (https://cert.br/), Ceptro.br (https://ceptro.br/), Cetic.br (https://cetic.br/), IX.br (https://ix.br/) and Ceweb.br (https://ceweb.br/), as well as projects like Internetsegura.br (https://internetsegura.br/) and the Portal of Best Practices for the Internet in Brazil (https://bcp.nic.br/). It also hosts the W3C Chapter São Paulo office (https://w3c.br/).

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee – CGI.br
The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee is responsible for establishing strategic guidelines related to the use and development of the Internet in Brazil, coordinating and integrating all Internet service initiatives in the country, promoting technical quality, innovation, and dissemination of the services offered. Based on the principles of multistakeholderism and transparency, CGI.br represents a democratic Internet governance model, internationally praised, in which all sectors of society equally participate in its decisions. One of its formulations is the 10 Principles for the Governance and Use of the Internet (https://cgi.br/resolucoes/documento/2009/003). More information at https://cgi.br/.

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