Big Data, Data Protection, and Research
Big data in health research utilizes vast, diverse data—from clinical records to digital footprints—to gain novel health insights. This broadens biomedical inquiry but challenges existing consent, privacy, and data governance standards.
Some Key Questions
The ethical use of big data raises pressing questions: Are current oversight mechanisms adequate for complex, data-intensive research? How should we govern data collected outside traditional healthcare settings? What protections are needed when data are reused for purposes not originally intended? As health research becomes increasingly computational and global, ensuring transparency, accountability, and respect for individual rights becomes both more urgent and more complex.