Ten questions for future regulation of Big Data: A comparative and empirical legal study

Big Data is a buzzword used frequently in both the private and the public sector, the press, and online media. Large amounts of money are being invested to make companies Big Data-proof, and governmental institutions are eager to experiment with Big Data applications in the fields of crime prevention, intelligence, and fraud, to name but a few areas. Though the exact nature and delineation of Big Data is still unclear, it seems likely that Big Data will have an enormous impact on our daily lives. Positively, undoubtedly, but there are also inherent risks to Big Data applications, as it might result in discrimination, privacy violations, and chilling effects. The ideal situation would be to have an adequate framework in place that will ensure that the beneficial uses of Big Data are promoted and facilitated, while the negative effects are mitigated or sanctioned. This contribution provides building blocks for developing such a framework, by giving an overview of the experience in the use and regulation of Big Data in 23 countries, aiming in particular at the use of Big Data by governments.