The biggest buzzword in 2013 was «Big Data». It was everywhere, especially in the speeches of all the bullshitters. And as with everything buzzy, a counter-movement has emerged, claiming «Big Data» is harmful. In the light of the NSA-scandal: an obvious point to be made.
As for me, both data-enthusiast and privacy-protector, there is no such thing as a golden path. The collection of big data is reality, now it’s on us what we make of it. We need a debate on what we want to achieve with it. We need a set of questions to be asked and answered together.
As the internet activist and artist Jonathan Harris puts it: Data Will Help us.
Let’s find out how.
Here are some questions out of Harris’ manifesto:
Data will help us remember, but will it let us forget?
It will help search engines know how often people search for «love», but will it help people find it?
It will help biologists map the migration of fish, but will it keep us from overfishing the oceans?
It will help hackers leak evidence of government surveillance, but will we treat those hackers as heroes or thieves?
It will help us feel connected, but will it help us feel loved?
It will help us uncover the facts, but will it help us be wise?