Academic Paper Summary

The documentary addresses a very important issue, which is the risk behind the mass use of Big Data, which has become a phenomenon of our times, but which has many aspects that can be harmful both to the individual and to society as a whole. Reference is made to scenarios that show how Big Data can be harmful, each of which describes different uses of Big Data in various fields, all of which lead to some kind of harm. The scenarios are contrived for the sake of argument but seem very realistic. It is said that the quality of the data itself and the analysis can be poor, and the decisions made based on this data inadequate and harmful. An important aspect of the whole debate is the question of responsibility for the active. It is cited that nuclear physicists are responsible for faults in the field and for the damage that these mistakes cause to people; therefore, those involved in Big Data analysis and those who supervise them should do their work carefully and thoughtfully and should face the consequences of actions that have brought harm to society. It should be added that some companies, including the IEEE, require employees to agree to accept responsibility for damage to safety, health, and public welfare and to disclose all factors that could cause damage. However, it is not said to what extent these promises are kept. Big Data and the analysis carried out through it bring many useful solutions, so IT professionals should share all useful discoveries for society and not act against the laws of ethics. (Clarke, 2016)

References 

Clarke, R. (2016) "Big data, big risks.", Information Systems Journal, 26(1), pp. 77-90. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12088 (Accessed: 30 November 2022)