Innovation or Intrusion: The Big Data Debate

Every click, search, and online purchase feeds the data economy, driving AI, global business, and even political campaigns. But with risks growing in the private and public spheres, is Big Data advancing society or undermining its foundations? Supporters argue Big Data powers innovation by fueling breakthroughs in medicine, public health, and everyday efficiency. Yet critics warn that it erodes privacy, concentrates power, and threatens democracy. In the age of algorithms and analytics, is Big Data a necessary innovation or a dangerous intrusion? Arguing "Innovation": Kenneth Cukier, Deputy Executive Editor at The Economist Arguing "Intrusion": Carissa Véliz, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy and the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford Xenia Wickett, Geopolitical strategist, moderator at Wickett Advisory, and Trustee of Transparency International UK, is the guest moderator. Join the conversation on our Substack—share your perspective on this episode and

You can listen to Innovation or Intrusion: The Big Data Debate online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Innovation or Intrusion: The Big Data Debate is an episode from Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates by Open to Debate.

This episode is 53:15 long.

This episode was published on Jan 23, 2026.

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