Tim Berners-Lee: Data sharing needs accountability
The question of how much data an individual should share was a key theme of Tim Berners-Lee's keynote at IP Expo
The question of how much data an individual should share was a key theme of Tim Berners-Lee's keynote speech at IP Expo in London.
Addressing a packed conference room, the father of the web said opening up data for clinical trials is the only way to solve big problems and, in the event of a road accident, he would want any doctor to access his records.
According to Berners-Lee, it is quite possible to build a system for the NHS where patient data can be shared in an accountable way.
In combating viruses like the Ebola outbreak, he said researchers were limited to looking at data from past trials. This information is restricted to the records of patients who participated.
"We need to make systems more open, because medical research on patient data is really important," he said.
But he argued organisations should not probe for information, calling for the appropriate use of data – which extends to government access.
Commenting on the US Patriot Act and spy agencies tapping internet traffic, Berners-Lee said: "I think surveillance is inevitable but not acceptable. We need a system built where there is an agency that watches the watchers."
He also warned there needed to be a change in attitude. "Big data leaves a lot to be desired. We have to move on to a world with different attitudes," he said.
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Data alerts
Berners-Lee described a possible way data updates could be shared in the same way shared electronic calendars work. While calendar synchronisation is rather crude, he argued it should be possible to build data collaboration tools that would allow important information to be shared among individuals.
Such tools would allow the public to dissect political debates, enabling them to make more informed decisions around important issues, or help researchers combat Ebola, he added.
Web ethics
Given the use of the web for distributing unsavoury material and viruses, as well as a vehicle for terrorists to spread fear, Berners-Lee defended the openness of the platform he created. When questioned on the ethics of the web, he said it reflected humanity.
"We see gruesome things and people will try to exploit it, but the web is not there to judge. It would be terrible if we had a web where you could only do nice things," he said.
Big data leaves a lot to be desired. We have to move on to a world with different attitudes
Tim Berners-Lee
Some people argue the only way to protect the web is to make a walled garden of safe content, but Berners-Lee disagreed. "The world I see is predicated on an open neutral network," he said.
While the web is often criticised for being insecure, he argued it would not have succeeded if security was watertight.
Looking at the global adoption of email, which is analogous to how the web has spread, Berners-Lee said: "It would have been really interesting if the email protocol needed a public key. It would not have taken off.
"We have to fit in security after the fact, but it would not have worked any other way," he added.
He did not agree with the right to be forgotten on the internet, since it went against freedom of speech. While libel and slander legislation are there to protect people when the information about them in the public domain is wrong, he said: "The idea information that is true is expunged from public record is repugnant."
Watch video highlights of Tim Berners-Lee's keynote presentation here >>
