J.J. Sylvia IV
In Booth, P. and Davisson, A. (Eds.), Controversies in Digital Ethics (pp. 13-28). New York, NY: Bloomsbury.
Publication year: 2016

Abstract

The ability of both people and organizations to leverage big data in new ways has rendered the traditional ethical frameworks for dealing with issues of privacy and commodification ineffective and archaic. The leveraging of such data raises new questions related to the power generated for businesses through the big data divide—the gap separating those who have access to big data and those who do not. Although the ethical issues related to big data have historical roots in commodification, we have the opportunity to embrace a new ethical framework for this age. Rather than focusing on privacy issues, big data can be better understood through the issue of power discrepancies created by the big data gap. One ethical aspect of this shift is seeking more emancipatory and affirmative uses of big data.