Big Data and it's Ethical and Social Issues!

 

Hi guys, welcome back to my blog once again! On this weeks blog I will be discussing Big Data and some of the problems that might come with it.

Big Data has many gains and has become ever so popular as I am sure you are all aware of, but despite its many advantages, Big data researchers have come to the conclusion that it also comes with many ethical and social challenges.

Ethical challenges: 

One of the main problems with big data is that of protecting individuals’ privacy. Informed consent is the main strategy used in research to preserve participants privacy. The primary objective of the consent procedure in research is to guarantee that participants are informed about the rationale, dangers, and the methods of the study being done. However, one of the main questions is whether the present permission standards for research still sufficiently protect patients’ privacy considering how significantly Big Data research differ from conventional research in terms of subject engagement.

Another issue that Big Data presents is whether or not it actually achieves equity. The ethical principle of promoting equity is challenged by big data research since its outcomes might easily and unintentionally persist in inequalities. While underrepresented populations may not benefit from big data research at all, overrepresented populations may benefit from it. This happens when big data study primarily employs information from a single group, such as one based on race, ethnicity, nationality, or socioeconomic class. These studies’ findings typically benefit just one group because they are based on the characteristics of its participants. Benefits from the study could not transfer to other groups when the conclusions are applied.

Social Challenges:    

Big data offers fresh, more precise social sorting techniques. A lot can be discovered by merging different types of data sets. A lot can be discovered by merging different types of data sets. Concerns are raised about how little information people have about how their data is gathered while they search, communicate, shop, visit websites, travel, and other activities. Concerns have been made over the use of personal information by credit card issuers, such as where the people shop and their shopping habits.

Recent years have seen many instances of data breaches. These can result in identity theft, extortion, harm to one’s reputation and distress. They can also cause a great deal of worry about future consequences.

Recently, there has been a lot of coverage of fake and bots. As the information that informs citizens is manipulated, they may result in false information and undermine democratic and political processes as well as social well-being. This can have negative social and political effects.

We as individuals must be extremely careful with the personal information we disclose so as to avoid becoming a victim of any of the negative impacts of big data. Big data’s increasing complexity is becoming quite unsettling.

I would love to hear some of your thoughts of the evolution of big data, please leave your comments below! 

See you next week,

Rachel