'Big Data presents several potential ethical and social challenges'- My Thoughts

 

Hi everyone!

As you can see, this week’s blog is all about big data!

For those unaware, Oracle defines big data as “data that contains greater variety, arriving in increasing volumes and with more velocity”. Sources of big data are being driven from AI, bringing a world of ethical and social challenges. In this blog post I’ll be discussing 3 different social and ethical issues associated with big data.

Privacy

There are many fears in today world that big data’s velocity, volume and veracity brings a huge threat to fundamental privacy. Big data analyses massive amounts of structured and unstructured data extremely quickly, giving businesses new and improved ways of analysing their consumers. However, some of this data analytics brings forward the challenge of privacy. In some businesses, CCTV is now being used to track customers movements through the store and help the business in product assortment. New processes such as this is worrying for customers who’s movements are being constantly watched and analysed likely without consent.

Algorithm Bias

According to a case study on the Robo-Debt scheme in Australia, the sources of algorithmic bias are data bias, method bias and societal bias (Akter Et Al., 2021). Algorithmic bias are outcomes that may have an adverse impact on protected or unprotected groups. For example, algorithms have been developed to predict a patients pain from an x-ray. However, this algorithm was solely based on white patients, being completely inaccurate for patients of colour.

Ownership

Ownership is a huge ethical challenge that comes with big data. People who share personal data to companies often feel that they do not have ownership of this data, having no control over how it is used or benefit in any way from the use or sale of their data. Data is not viewed as property (therefore cannot be stolen) and therefore people providing this data are offered very little legal protection if it is used in a way they are not comfortable with.

As you can clearly see for the examples above, although big data brings extensive benefits to businesses, social and ethical challenges make the development of big data in our world today extremely concerning for unaware consumers.

I would love to know how you feel about this topic, does it scare you? Do the benefits out way the challenges? Let me know in the comments!