DataBust: Dissecting Big Data Practices and Imaginaries
Talk by Judith Simon at the Joint Research Centre (21 June 2016)
Across both public and private domains, Big Data continues to generate great interest. Glorified by some and demonized by others, modern data analytics have been touted as a “revolution that will transform how we live, work, and think” (Mayer-Schönberger and Cukier 2013). But how exactly do Big Data processes participate in shaping society and “making up people” (Hacking 1999)? This presentation argues that in order to understand Big Data and its societal consequences, a combination of ethical and epistemological analysis is needed as certain ethical implications — e.g., related to issues of anonymity and privacy — can only be properly assessed if the underlying epistemic practices — e.g., new ways of re-identification and de-anonymization — are recognized and taken into account. An appreciation of the epistemic properties of Big Data methodologies as novel and potentially problematic forms of computational knowledge production thus represents a first key concern. In addition, the presentation considers the significance of Big Data for public policy in a twofold manner: First, it examines the increased emphasis on predictive analytics as a rationale and justification for political action and decision making; second, it identifies new requirements and challenges in the governance of Big Data, addressing issues such as the general complexity and speed of development (a), the profound lack of technical skills and competencies for improved regulation (b), as well as insufficient access to data in both the government sector and academia ©. The presentation will conclude with some considerations on how a responsible governance of Big Data may deal with these challenges; a subsequent discussion part will detail “political imaginaries” (Ezrahi 2015) of Big Data by examining the use of the term in recent EC communications, press releases, and speeches.
With discussant: Gernot Rieder, IT University of Copenhagen.
About the Speaker:
Judith Simon is Associate Professor for Philosophy of Science and Technology at the IT University Copenhagen and PI of the research project “Epistemic Trust in Socio-Technical Epistemic Systems” at the University of Vienna. Previously she was employed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the Institut Jean Nicod (CNRS/ENS) in Paris and the Research Center Jülich and has held visiting positions in the US (Stanford), Italy (Trento), and Spain (IIIA-CISC Barcelona). Judith Simon holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Vienna and a MA in psychology from the Free University of Berlin. She serves as co-editor of the journals “Philosophy & Technology” and “Big Data & Society”. Her research interests include philosophy of computing, computer ethics, philosophy of science and technology, socio-technical epistemology, science and technology studies, technology assessment & values in design.
Gernot Rieder is a PhD fellow at the IT University of Copenhagen in the Technologies in Practice research group. His dissertation investigates the rise of Big Data in public policy, the history of the automated state, and the epistemological, social, and ethical implications of data-driven decision making. Other areas of interest include science funding and governance, scientometrics, and the politics of methods. Gernot has a background in Communications (BA), Media Studies (BA), and Science and Technology Studies (MA). He serves as an Assistant Editor for the SAGE journal “Big Data & Society” and was previously a member of the research project “Epistemic Trust in Socio-Technical Epistemic Systems” at the University of Vienna. Gernot specializes in actor-network theory and mixed-methods research.
Contro Corrente is a series of seminars with renowned scholars and practitioners of science and technology studies, aiming at raising awareness of science and technology studies and how these types of reflexive activities can help with scientific practice at the Joint Research Centre.
