Ethics of Big Data: Balancing Risk and Innovation 1st Edition

Big Data is a fascinating, complex, and multi-layered topic that, with its inherent complexities, could have easily turned this book into a several hundred page publication. The truth is, the ethics around big data are equally if not more complex than the mechanics of how its collected, segmented and used. Fortunately, both Kord Davis and Doug Patterson do not wade too deeply into toolsets or the mechanics, but artfully balance real world examples with thought-provoking points about the use and ethics of big data.Whether you actively are collecting and using big data today or you are completely new to the topic, Ethics of Big Data is an excellent (and easy) read for all to really explore the implications behind such rich insights collected on each one of us. I most appreciated the examples peppered throughout of different corporate published policies versus their actual use of big data.Ethics of Big Data poses very important questions and considerations that every organization should think through. Equally beneficial is for consumers to understand how big data is used today and the risks of its abuse. Best of all, the book does not impose an ethical standpoint, but rather provides a meaningful structure for organizations to establish their position on and statement of use of big data.Despite the deep nature of the topic, this book is an easy and insightful read and one that I would definitely recommend.

As our organization is actively exploring greater use of "big data", I thought I would try to get knowledgeable about some of the potential ramifications of this area. I've not completely gotten through the book, but I was more than a little surprised at the book's length (68 pages) - which seemed "less" than what it should have been (based on what I'm not sure), and it seemed disproportionate for the price (although I purchased a Used copy). What I've read so far has not been either inspiring or a significant revelation, but maybe that's just how it goes with some books.

Arrived as promised.

This a fairly small book at 64 pages, but it reads longer than the 64 pages indicate because it is 9x7 inches, has small fonts and short line spacing. This has the highest density of flags among the books I read in recent years.There is a lot of repetition but I found the repetition to be necessary if you are not familiar with the topic of Big Data.The target audience of this book, which the publisher should have made more clear, are people who are working at companies that deal with Big Data or are or will be involved with Big Data in a professional capacity at some point. This is not a general interest book, not in the same way Brian Greene or Neil de Grasse Tyson books are general interest science books. Greene and Tyson books have both educate and entertain components with lots of anecdotes and stories to make the concepts more accessible and the reading smoother. The Big Data book is strictly educate, textbook style, consultant report style, there's no entertain.The first chapter frames Big Data. The second chapter looks at two important factors at play, the Values of a company and the Actions of a company and proposes Ethical Decision Points as the framework. Chapter three discusses Current Practices while Chapter Four fleshes out the framework suggested by the authors.While the book remains neutral on the subject of Big Data, it raises a lot of questions that companies that generate, use and trade Big Data are shying away from, avoiding, ignoring or stonewalling. Questions such as "should individuals have a legitimate ability to control data about themselves and to what degree?" (page #17) and questions about an individual's data ownership and copyright (page #19). The book also exposes something interesting about the top 50 companies: "no company made any explicit statement that they would not buy personal data" (page #31). The author also exposes the hypocrisy of "we value your privacy" while making it almost impossible to opt out (page #38).On the pet peeve front, the book falls into the internet meme argument trap, it uses a Hitler analogy on the second to last page (page #63). So close! It could have easily been avoided, especially when you consider that the main author is a philosopher by education!If you are trying to decide between Kindle or Physical Book, there are only two worksheets and one diagram in the book. Everything else is text. Even on the printed pages, the two worksheets are low resolution, they are too wide for the physical book page, so you probably have to look for them online anyway.