Ethics of Big Data: Balancing Risk and Innovation

by Kord Davis

What are your organization’s policies for generating and using huge datasets full of personal information? This book examines ethical questions raised by the big data phenomenon, and explains why enterprises need to reconsider business decisions concerning privacy and identity. Authors Kord Davis and Doug Patterson provide methods and techniques to help your business engage in a transparent and productive ethical inquiry into your current data practices. Both individuals and organizations have legitimate interests in understanding how data is handled. Your use of data can directly affect brand quality and revenue―as Target, Apple, Netflix, and dozens of other companies have discovered. With this book, you’ll learn how to align your actions with explicit company values and preserve the trust of customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Genres: Business, Philosophy

82 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2011

Reviews

[Suhrob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short book presenting a framework for discussion for companies about privacy policies. The analysis is based on the privacy policies of top 50 Fortune 500 companies. The discussion is purely descriptive, no solutions are offered (which is not the point of the book and could not be addressed at this level anyway). The book ends with a "discussion kit" to help opening the discussion within companies.

Modest in scope and aims, I guess it fulfills its goals, but hopefully won't make anybody complacent that the issue is solved.

[Natália Gonçalves · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could be resumed in less pages. A bit repetitive, but a good discussion book.

[Ahmed Farrukh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frustratingly repetitive and somehow simultaneously convoluted.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rise of big data has allowed tremendous advances to take place in corporate research and the ability to target market segments based upon consumer analytics. For example Google searches coupled with clicks on expedia to target advertisements of Caribbean destinations. Sometimes it is considered creepy what a company can target to a consumer. Target Stores were accused of using this data to target baby items to people who had just become pregnant before even friends and family were told. Kord Davis brings to light the potential pitfalls of such a powerful data set and the ethical considerations that need to be taken into account before pursuing this path. This is really just the tip of the iceberg but does get the conversations started. The book does provide several methodologies for developing big data policies and takes a look at the Fortune 50 companies and their data polices. Although as the author points out many of the Fortune 50 don’t have much in the way of data policies but it is this lack that shows the importance of the conversation. Overall if you are looking for something academic on the subject of big data this is a great start and an excellent primer for executives looking to hold discussions with employees.

[Mikey Sklar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not tracking you.