Open Data × Data Privacy

Globally, more data have been produced in the past several years than were ever created before, and ultimately data have become more valuable than gold. The ramifications of this explosion are significant and pose challenges to individuals, businesses and governments on an unprecedented scale. Consequently, the issues surrounding big data are manifold: Should big data be regulated? Who should protect data from malicious use and how should they be collected? At the same time, how can this information remain freely accessible and ensure democratic use? This resulting ambiguity is rendered visible in this room because it presents both sides of the coin. On the one hand, you can find websites that praise open data by offering innovative ways for individual use and gain; on the other hand, it renders visible the need for data protection and regulations by governments. The room thus tackles the seminal question of whether we can have both sides: freely accessible information and shared knowledge as well as privacy protection and data security.