Privacy, Big Data, and the Public Good: Frameworks for Engagement

• Activity Number: 427
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: ASA
• Author(s): Julia Lane*+ and Victoria Stodden and Stefan Bender and Helen Nissenbaum
• Companies: American Institutes for Research and Columbia University and Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB) and New York University
• Keywords: Big Data ; Privacy ; Confidentiality ; Ethics ; Data Access ; Data Reproducibility

Abstract

Massive amounts of data on human beings can now be accessed and analyzed. Much has been made of the pragmatic uses of such data. Yet "big data" can also be harnessed to serve the public good: scientists can do research that improves the lives of human beings, governments can improve services and reduce taxpayer costs and public organizations can advocate for public causes. Much has also been made of the privacy and confidentiality issues associated with access. A survey of statisticians at the 2013 JSM found that the majority thought consumers should worry about privacy issues, and that ethical guidance should be available. Yet there are many unanswered questions. What are the ethical and legal requirements? What are the rules of engagement? What are the best ways to provide access while protecting confidentiality? Are there reasonable mechanisms to compensate citizens for privacy loss? The panel draws from work in a forthcoming book with the same title. The focus will be on identifying the issues, and practical solutions, from multiple, yet overlapping, frameworks: conceptual, practical and statistical. The panel will also discuss a future research agenda.