Confessions of a "Recovering" Data Broker: Responsible Innovation in the Age of Big Data, Big Brother, and the Coming Skynet Terminators

It's been said that the human brain is comprised of 300 million pattern matchers fed with data from our five primary senses and memories. In this age of distributed computing and cheap storage in the cloud, "thinking" without a biological brain is possible for the first time in history. The sensory input into this new, extracorporeal brain is big data. Global data supply chains carry exabytes of government, corporate, and social data powering breakthrough uses in medicine, transportation, communications, and energy. However, equally fantastic is the specter of abuses by powerful players to exploit private information, subtly discriminate, or mistakenly prosecute the innocent. This talk will discuss the current state of these data supply chains, where they are headed, and the societal implications for privacy, security, and liberty.

Jim Adler is a business executive, entrepreneur, and thought leader on big data, privacy, security, and voting systems. He’s founded companies, defined vision and strategy, led teams, developed technology, and built products.

Most recently, Jim was Vice President, Data Systems, at inome and the first Chief Privacy Officer at Intelius. Jim led the big data team that powers the company’s products as well as serving as its chief consumer advocate.

Prior to inome and Intelius, Jim served as president and chief technology officer at Identity.net, an Internet company giving consumers control of their online identity and reputation. He was the founder and CEO of VoteHere, a pioneer in the development of private and secure electronic voting, both online and offline. He is a co-inventor of patents related to cryptographic voting and digital signatures.

Jim received his bachelor’s degree with high honors in electrical engineering from the University of Florida and his master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, San Diego.

Jim blogs about privacy, data, and leadership at jimadler.me. Follow him on Twitter @jim_adler.