Drew Cat
Cabinet Office, London, UK
Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2016 Dec 28;374(2083). doi: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0119.
Data science can offer huge opportunities for government. With the ability to process larger and more complex datasets than ever before, it can provide better insights for policymakers and make services more tailored and efficient. As with all new technologies, there is a risk that we do not take up its opportunities and miss out on its enormous potential. We want people to feel confident to innovate with data. So, over the past 18 months, the Government Data Science Partnership has taken an open, evidence-based and user-centred approach to creating an ethical framework. It is a practical document that brings all the legal guidance together in one place, and is written in the context of new data science capabilities. As part of its development, we ran a public dialogue on data science ethics, including deliberative workshops, an experimental conjoint survey and an online engagement tool. The research supported the principles set out in the framework as well as provided useful insight into how we need to communicate about data science. It found that people had a low awareness of the term 'data science', but that showing data science examples can increase broad support for government exploring innovative uses of data. But people's support is highly context driven. People consider acceptability on a case-by-case basis, first thinking about the overall policy goals and likely intended outcome, and then weighing up privacy and unintended consequences. The ethical framework is a crucial start, but it does not solve all the challenges it highlights, particularly as technology is creating new challenges and opportunities every day. Continued research is needed into data minimization and anonymization, robust data models, algorithmic accountability, and transparency and data security. It also has revealed the need to set out a renewed deal between the citizen and state on data, to maintain and solidify trust in how we use people's data for social good.This article is part of the themed issue 'The ethical impact of data science'.
数据科学能为政府带来巨大机遇。凭借处理比以往更大、更复杂数据集的能力，它能为政策制定者提供更深刻的见解，并使服务更具针对性和高效性。与所有新技术一样，存在一种风险，即我们可能无法抓住其机遇，错失其巨大潜力。我们希望人们有信心利用数据进行创新。因此，在过去18个月里，政府数据科学合作组织采取了一种开放、基于证据且以用户为中心的方法来创建一个道德框架。这是一份实用文件，将所有法律指导汇集于一处，并在新数据科学能力的背景下撰写。在其制定过程中，我们就数据科学伦理进行了公开对话，包括审议研讨会、实验性联合调查和在线参与工具。该研究支持了框架中提出的原则，并为我们如何就数据科学进行沟通提供了有用的见解。研究发现，人们对“数据科学”一词的认知度较低，但展示数据科学实例可以增加公众对政府探索数据创新用途的广泛支持。但人们的支持高度受具体情境驱动。人们逐案考虑可接受性，首先思考总体政策目标和可能的预期结果，然后权衡隐私和意外后果。道德框架是一个关键的开端，但它并未解决其突出的所有挑战，尤其是随着技术每天都在带来新的挑战和机遇。需要持续研究数据最小化和匿名化、强大的数据模型、算法问责制以及透明度和数据安全。它还揭示了需要在公民和国家之间就数据达成新的协议，以维持和巩固我们如何将人们的数据用于社会公益方面的信任。本文是主题为“数据科学的伦理影响”的特刊的一部分。
