You’re being watched: How Big Data is changing our lives

Your phone lights up with a notification. “COVID-19 case alert. You checked in to X location on Y date around the same time as a COVID-19 case. Unless otherwise advised, you must monitor for symptoms. If you are unwell, get a COVID-19 test.”

You pick up your phone and wonder whether to panic.

Users interact with their phones thousands of times a day.Credit:iStock

Global studies showed that even in 2016, users were interacting with or ‘touching’ their phones thousands of times per day. COVID-19 has exacerbated that trend, for everything from check-ins and vaccination records to banking, ordering food, working and socialising. If you’re anything like the average Australian, you’re spending five and a half hours a day on your phone.

We often think about online data from a personal privacy perspective, which is of course profoundly important. However, it is also important to understand how our collective reliance on data infrastructure and our participation in the digital economy are forming the backbone of new economic, political, and social power – what I call in a paper published on Wednesday by the Lowy Institute “the big data landscape”.

The big data landscape has embedded new structures for unprecedented collection, aggregation and analysis of data about almost every aspect of our lives, as well as new ways to keep us continuously connected. All this data tells a rich story about who we are and what we do. It can provide real-time updates about every aspect of our lives – our physical movements, finances, sexual preferences, mental wellbeing, friends and desires.

Big data democratises capabilities for targeting and surveillance – functions that were previously performed by nation states. The big data digital footprint and the infrastructure used to analyse it is predominantly owned by commercial entities, meaning that the data – and the ability to derive insight from it – largely resides in the private sector.

Big data democratises capabilities for targeting and surveillance – functions that were previously performed by nation states.Credit:Glenn Hunt

Much of this collection occurs within companies that monetise their user data, and much of it is available for purchase. The sheer amount of data – often accessible in real time – creates uncertainty over when, where, and by whom aggregation of that data, as well as targeting and surveillance, can occur.

The enormous national security implications of near-complete data coverage of human lives are underappreciated in policy and public commentary. For countries and their governments, it means that data can be used to target and surveil citizens, politicians, journalists, national security workers and military. This ‘democratisation’ of targeting and surveillance means that these capabilities could be available to anyone that can collect or buy data, such as private companies, malicious actors, other nation states or a combination.

Around the world and possibly exacerbated by COVID-19, employer surveillance is on the rise, including more wide-ranging – and oppressive – monitoring. In some places, this takes the form of comprehensive surveillance, including worker location, physiological signs, time on tasks and performance management – as well as algorithmic payment and firing. High-end spyware Pegasus has been used to spy on everyone from journalists, to human rights activists, government ministers, diplomats, and businesspeople in both democracies and autocratic regimes.

In some places, there is less distinction between state and non-state actors. Take the extensive surveillance and detainment of Uighurs in Xinjiang, enabled by a combination of big data collection and data fusion, among other forms of surveillance. We also see China harvesting masses of data on Western targets.

Virtually all information is now controlled or goes through these large companies.Credit:Getty

The big tech companies that have successfully capitalised on data abundance, digital connectivity, and ubiquitous technology are the new oligarchies and are increasingly controlling the capabilities essential for a functioning society. Big data has concentrated information flows, critical data sets and the technical capabilities essential for functioning democracies in the hands of a small number of commercial entities. Since virtually all information is now controlled or goes through these large companies, at some level, it fundamentally changes the security landscape for government and has created new power dynamics between governments, citizens, companies and nation states.

Phones, computers and internet-connected devices (such as Fitbits and ‘Alexa’) are so deeply embedded in our lives and have so much power in society that it is easy to forget many are barely older than teenagers. Google started in 1998. Facebook is 17, YouTube is 16 and the iPhone is merely 15 years old. These powerful entities have created a new information and infrastructure landscape with minimal oversight from national governments.

Technical developments occur much faster than regulation can keep up with. And very little regulation occurs before real social harms manifest. The challenges presented by big data are whole-of-society ones that now require new ways of thinking and responding.

Many of Australia’s regulatory approaches necessarily look at single aspects of the big data landscape, such as the ACCC’s inquiry into digital ad services. But big data has created a new landscape comprising data abundance, digital connectivity and ubiquitous technology.

There is no doubt big data holds immense promise and possibility for positive change. However, it is also changing society and national security in ways that need consideration and response. It’s time to turn our focus to using innovative and exciting technologies in ways that ensure Australia is secure and we create opportunities for all Australians.

Miah Hammond-Errey is a senior analyst at the ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre.

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