Seminar: The ethics of Big Data

The advent of the Big Data era comes with the promise of better and more efficient policy-making for a safer, healthier, wealthier and more democratic world. Big Data is particularly approached as a means which enable cities to be “smart” by offering data-driven solutions to modern urban challenges. At the same time, implementing Big Data policies and collecting and using people’s data comprise various ethical concerns for policy-makers. For instance, how is it possible to exploit data securely without infringing on people’s privacy norms and rights? And how can Big Data-based policy be truly democratic and useful for everyone, rather than benefit the digitally savvy and “usual suspects”? Our esteemed panel will explore these and related issues.