Big Data ethics. Issue 2 (18th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zwitter, Andrej
• Is Part Of: Big data & society. Volume 1:Issue 2(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-11-18
• Subjects: Ethics -- moral responsibility -- societal impact -- education -- Big Data governance; Big data -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Research -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Data mining -- Periodicals; 300.28557
• DOI: 10.1177/2053951714559253
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-9517

Abstract

The speed of development in Big Data and associated phenomena, such as social media, has surpassed the capacity of the average consumer to understand his or her actions and their knock-on effects. We are moving towards changes in how ethics has to be perceived: away from individual decisions with specific and knowable outcomes, towards actions by many unaware that they may have taken actions with unintended consequences for anyone. Responses will require a rethinking of ethical choices, the lack thereof and how this will guide scientists, governments, and corporate agencies in handling Big Data. This essay elaborates on the ways Big Data impacts on ethical conceptions.