Reinventing the Social Contractin an Age of Big Data

We live in an unprecedented historic moment where the availability of vast amounts of human behavioral data, combined with advances in machine learning, are enabling us to tackle complex problems through algorithmic decision-making. The opportunities to have positive social impact through fairer and more transparent decisions are paramount. In fact, this book, with its focus on big data in human development, reflects on such existing opportunities, but also describes some of the key challenges that we need to tackle before such opportunities can become a reality.

In this chapter, we describe a proposal that places humans and their societal values at the center of our discussions, as humans are ultimately both the actors and the subjects of the decisions made via algorithmic and/or human means. By involving people and ensuring that their values are met, we should be able to realize the positive potential of data-driven algorithmic decision-making while minimizing the risks and possible negative unintended consequences. We look forward to contributing to a world where—with the help of Big Data and related technologies—every person counts: their voices are heard, their needs are met, their potentials are realized, and their rights are respected