Better Business Decisions from Data

CHAPTER 25

Concerns with Big Data

The Small Print

Beneficial innovations always have downsides. We accept large numbers of deaths from road accidents and occasional air disasters for the benefits of faster travel. We accept the risk of nuclear war for the benefits of nuclear energy. Big data is not unique in having problem areas—but we are not contemplating the end of civilization!

Security

Data is valuable. It is not just the conclusions from the processed data that have an economic value; the data itself has value because of its potential. OpusData, for example, is a company that sells access to data from The Numbers, a large database containing financial details on about 15,000 movies and 18,000 actors, directors, and technicians. Traditionally, ...