A Conservative Viewpoint on Big Data

May 22, 2015

Author: tuhin

This is in response to the recently published article titled “Missing the Big Picture on Big Data” (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-big-data-conundrum/article7224…) in the national Daily Hindu written by G. Sampath. Mr Samath argues in his piece about how big data which is seen as the most coveted tool to govern the future of mankind might not have the answers to the basic socio-economic problems faced by the larger society as a whole. In particular the article gives an apprehensive outlook to the utilization of Big Data conveying a sinister plot which big data entails with it.

There is a definite sense of pessimism when it comes to utilization of big data for socio economic benefit and empowerment of masses. The author is very critical about the concept of informed decision making process and feels that data analytics cannot fulfill the basic necessities the society demands out of the governance mechanism across the world. At the same time the author’s perception of Big Data is somewhat skewed when he narrowly confines big data to the so called commercialization of affairs in today’s fast globalizing world. Perhaps the use of term Data Colonization says it all about the school of thought from where his idea of paranoia with regard to Big Data is emanating from. The author makes the mistake of associating his black and white ideological belief to the concept of big data without realizing the fact that there is a bit more specifics and complexities involved in this subject matter.

The concept of Open Government Data which the author seems oblivious to, has its roots in the ideas of transparency, openness and social change. While talking about informed decision making process Open Data has enabled government to enhance its public delivery mechanism enabling it to engage with the larger public through essential data. It is a matter of great concern that the author chooses to ignore the very essence of data when it comes to informed decision making process. What needs to be noted here is that use of data is not only confined to enabling government to make informed decisions with lesser margin of error, but it also entails values of transparency and accountability which the citizen can bank on for larger empowerment of the society.

The anxiety portrayed by the author with regard to collection of data by various non-institutional applications and the Government in the form of UID is totally uncalled for. One must realize that for any kind of services which a person wants to enjoy, will always have to be based on the information which he or she shares with the service provider without which the service itself will fail to address its needs. This has always been the case only difference which one can see here is that earlier this data was collected in a non-digital manner now this information is digitized with the onset on IT and internet revolution. Yes, with this digitization, it has enabled us to do wonderful things by analyses and sharing of data. To cut a long story short if a citizen expects a government to address his or her needs effectively, he has to come out with his accurate details to prevent miscarriage of governance. With regard to data being collected by the private application developers, one should realize that no one is forcing anyone to share the data with these private developers; it is the prerogative of the individual itself to do so voluntarily.

Finally I would also look at the assertion made by the author with reference to data analytics governing the politics of modern era. Quite naturally the author is again skeptical about this and feels politics and data analytics cannot go hand in hand. However, this again is a very parochial way of looking at things. If one looks at the subject matter of politics from historical times, politics and its essence is governed by two though processes, normative and empirical. Normative approach as always has remained intact but that does not mean that empirical approach to politics does not add value to the theory. The data has empirical value and therefore it is wrong to say data cannot govern political decision making and outlook. For the author to say that political decision making emanating out of the empirical data analysis and number crunching may not have the desired socio economic result, I would say is being judgmental without any facts and figures to back up his assertion.

However I do compliment Mr Sampath for his effort to write this critical piece on an emerging area of datasets correlating it with Big Data, however, I would suggest if he had broadened his outlook and taken into consideration the values attached to data, more importantly looked at the concept of Open Data in consonance with the idea of big data perhaps he might have come up different results.