Is Big Data Spreading Inequality?

New York Times
Wednesday, August 6, 2014

The FTC and the White House have recently called for legislation that would inform users about the data social media companies collect and sell amid concerns about discriminatory data profiling. Seeta Peña Gangadharan of the New America Foundation echoes these concerns, arguing that big data can facilitate discriminatory practices in lending, hiring and marketing. Jake Rosenberg of Lendup counters that companies like his use big data to help lenders extend credit to the underbanked by creating new sources of credit behavior data for borrowers with scarce credit histories. Maurice Mitchell of the New York State Civic Engagement Table focuses on ways big data can expose and remedy cases of discrimination, including discriminatory housing patterns.