Marie Wallace: The ethics of collecting data

Summary

The speaker discusses the growing prevalence of big data analytics and its potential to exploit or enrich lives. They advocate for a transparent approach to data privacy where insights are shared with individuals, allowing them to make informed choices. Using IBM's enterprise social network as an example, they demonstrate how prioritizing privacy by design can foster trust, dialogue, and innovation, suggesting a similar culture of transparency could benefit society at large.

Takeaways

• 🌐 **Big Data Ubiquity**: As our lives become increasingly digital, big data analytics will be omnipresent.
• 🔍 **Choice of Insights Use**: Society can decide whether data insights are used to exploit or enrich lives.
• 🔑 **Privacy's Impact**: The approach to privacy will significantly influence how data is used.
• 📱 **Algorithmic Filtering**: Future scenarios may involve algorithms filtering information to manipulate users' perceptions and choices.
• 💸 **Targeted Advertising**: Social networks might use personal data to push targeted ads, exploiting insecurities for profit.
• 🌟 **Transparency as a Solution**: Transparency in how data is handled can prevent manipulation and empower users.
• 🌐 **Global Human Network**: Social technologies connect us globally, necessitating a new approach to data privacy.
• 🏛️ **Regulatory Challenges**: Traditional data regulation is insufficient in an interconnected world where data leaks are common.
• 🔄 **Data Fluidity**: Data ownership is complex as insights can be derived from both public and private data.
• 🔑 **Privacy's New Approach**: A culture of transparency is needed, where individuals and society choose to engage with transparent organizations.
• 🏢 **IBM's Internal Transparency**: IBM's project on enterprise social networks emphasizes privacy by design, transparency, and employee empowerment.

Q & A

What is the potential danger of big data analytics in the digital age?

Big data analytics can be used to exploit and manipulate individuals by filtering the information they see, such as reinforcing body image issues to push targeted advertising, leading to a decrease in self-confidence.

How can transparency in data analytics enrich our lives?

By being open and transparent, systems can share insights with users and give them options to choose from, allowing for conscious decisions rather than being unknowingly manipulated.

What is the challenge with data privacy in the interconnected world?

Data privacy is challenging because data can leak between people, and insights can be derived from both public and private data, making data ownership and the definition of public or private data complicated.

Why is data ownership meaningless in the current context?

Data ownership is meaningless because in an interconnected world, data about an individual can be generated from data shared by others, and insights can be derived without direct access to an individual's private data.

What is the proposed solution to the privacy challenges in the new interconnected world?

The proposed solution is a culture of transparency where organizations are open about how they collect, analyze, and use information, allowing individuals to exercise control over their data.

How does IBM approach privacy by design in their enterprise social network?

IBM took a privacy by design approach by defining principles that prioritize privacy and personal autonomy, committing to openness and transparency, and ensuring simplicity and ease of use for all analytics.

What are the three principles guiding IBM's approach to privacy in their social network?

The three principles are privacy and personal autonomy, openness and transparency, and simplicity and ease of use.

How does IBM's approach to privacy build trust with employees?

IBM builds trust by defining simple principles, being open and transparent, and generating dialogue around the use and value of social and collaboration data.

What is the benefit of putting employees in control of analytics at IBM?

By putting employees in control, IBM demonstrates respect, leading to increased engagement, and the ability to create new relationships with employees in a way that is respectful and sensitive to their privacy.

Can the approach to transparency at IBM be applied to external social spheres?

Yes, the approach to transparency can be applied to external social spheres, and it is believed that it should be, to give consumers the same level of transparency and control over their data.

What is the virtuous circle created by transparency and openness in data analytics?

Transparency and openness build trust, leading to more open and free engagement and data sharing, which in turn means more value for both users and organizations.