The power of data: ethics, politics, and public interest

Contributor(s): Dr Alison Powell, Dr Chris Wiggins, Dr Erin Young | Data profoundly influences all of our lives and the social, economic and political systems that govern them. Everywhere we turn we are creating increasing amounts of data that powers decision-making algorithms and shapes our future. It is however important to remember how partial and biased data can be given the privileged position it has in the perception of absolute truth. This event will discuss important questions around the role of data science in understanding and shaping the public interest, from access to information to civic participation and business development to democratic processes. It will offer a framework for understanding the persistent role of data in rearranging power, with Chris Wiggins reflecting on the history and future of data drawing on his book How Data Happened. Alison Powell, author of Undoing Optimization, discussing the ethics and politics of data practices and Erin Young considering inclusion practices in data science and AI across the public and private sectors.