Data Analytics and Ethics

What will London, arguably the world's most dynamic city look like in 10 years? That was the challenge recently put to me by Kulveer Ranger, former Director of Digital London and former Adviser for the Mayor of London.

I believe I am fairly qualified to give good view as my job entails delivering both data strategy and the implementation of cutting edge projects for government agencies and mid & large corporations. That said this is just my view right now, and I'd be interested in anyone else's views on the topic (comment here or contact me directly via my details at the end of the article).

From where I am standing, in the next ten years citizens will have significantly better control over how their data is used because of five megatrends for the Digital Future Info savvy citizens. 

1. Digital vfd (Value for Data)
Citizen knowledge will have advanced to a level where the populous is mostly digitally savvy. In 2026 it will have been 19 years since the world’s first iPhone smart phone was launched and now Generations X, Y and Z will know the value of their data, and expect a fair value exchange with organisations.

2. Ethical data performance monitoring at work
Ethical processing of data will become a specific consideration and control check in organisations alongside regulatory adherence and internal policy control checks. Employee annual performance objective plans will cover wider data ethics objectives, including the agreement that employees do not do something with data that they would not like done to their family or friends (a basic but powerful view of what is data ethics). Remember that scene in Back to the Future II when Marty McFly gets fired – he engages with an ‘unethical’ digital transaction, which is monitored and immediately flagged to his boss from whom he receives an instant video call and ‘you’re fired’ fax! This will happen – (maybe not the fax bit).

3. Ethical differentiation
Customer data charters will be commonplace that function solely to help organisations state how they will treat citizen data. Competition on ethical values will exist, where companies go above and beyond required regulation to build trust, advocacy and loyalty. Data ethics will take its place alongside other brand differentiators such as Fair Trade, Green Credentials, Sponsorships and Charity Support. So it won’t just be your carbon footprint, but ‘bad’ and ‘good’ data usage practice that we will be keen to be reassured about

4. Outcome focussed ethical technologies
The Internet of Things (IoT) will have given rise to smart, intelligent sensors within everyday hardware, and these sensors will work collaboratively on a pure rules basis to deliver an outcome dictated solely by the consumer at a personal or household level. The flow of this data will be secured in far more advanced ways, possibly by digital avatars that securely allow citizens to identify themselves with the digital world with little/ no real-world personal data exchange.

5. Proactive, agile and strong regulation
The regulatory boundaries of data management and processing will – as we are already beginning to realise – need to be even more understood because of the modern day history built up and knowledge gained over this time. The severe financial and non-financial risks will be even more clearly understood for breaches in data management and processing. Regulators will themselves now be digitally savvy resulting in agile and proactive monitoring rather than slow and reactive reviews. The foundations for digital market regulatory frame works are already being considered at European and National levels but it is paramount that Local Government and public services such as Policing, Health and Transport also work together to prepare for the transformation in their services that citizens will soon experience.

So there you go. I hope I haven't upset anyone. The Data Analytics and Ethics megatrends are supplemented with additional views from many leading experts in their own respective fields on how it's the London citizen who will shape the journey to digital transformation for London. You can download or read the entire report here. 

As I said earlier, these are my views just now and I'd love to expand my knowledge with you or your organisation's views on data analytics and ethics. You can contact me at Atos at: [email protected] to continue the conversation in areas that I haven't considered.

Finally, please like and share it you think this article was useful and thank you for reading.