Big data is a powerful weapon in the fight for equality

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[Commentary] Many individuals have made the claim that big data might lead to more discrimination if algorithms unfairly disadvantage certain groups in their decision-making. While this type of discrimination is plausible, there are many compelling reasons why it may never come to pass. Moreover, the focus on how big data might be used to harm individuals has overshadowed the bigger opportunity to use data as a new tool in the fight for equality.

One reason concerns about discrimination are likely overblown is because many laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), protect consumers from employers, creditors, landlords and others who may take adverse actions against them based on protected classes of information. Big data does not exempt businesses from following these laws.

Those working to fight discrimination should look to data as a way to further eliminate unjust biases in society and create a more fair and transparent society.

[Castro is a senior analyst with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation]


Big data is a powerful weapon in the fight for equality