Big Data and Privacy
Big Data and Privacy
- Nathaniel A. DellNathaniel A. DellWashington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Summary
Big Data can provide useful insights for advancing social work research and practice, although the collection of large amounts of personal data, linkage of disparate data sources, and advances in artificial intelligence (AI) pose significant privacy risks to individuals in broader society, and particularly those served through health and social care settings. The conversion of more aspects of everyday life into data, coupled with the increased capability to store and link data, creates new risks for private data breaches, data leakage, re-identification, and other privacy concerns. Despite the potential benefits of Big Data, many social workers still serve within agencies that lack the technical resources, relative to workers in other industries, such as marketing firms or political campaigns, to leverage data efficiently to plan, design, implement, and evaluate programs. As Big Data become more ubiquitous, ethical guidelines have evolved to address issues related to privacy in information and communication technologies. Yet with rapid changes in technology, particularly with respect to AI, social workers may find it difficult to stay abreast of current measures for best safeguarding client privacy and preventing Big Data-related harms.
Subjects
- Administration and Management
- Clinical and Direct Practice
- Social Work Profession