National and Transnational Security Implications of Big Data in the Life Sciences

Big Data analytics is a rapidly growing field that promises to change, perhaps dramatically, the delivery of services in sectors as diverse as consumer products and healthcare. Big Data analytics also have the potential to enable deeper insight into complex scientific problems by leveraging ever-increasing stores of knowledge coupled with ever-improving processing capabilities. These beneficial aspects of Big Datahave been well-documented and widely touted. However, less attention has been paid to the possible risks associated with these technologies beyond issues related to privacy. These risks include, but are not limited to, vulnerabilities of data sets to cyber intrusion and design of biological weapons derived from the integration and analysis of Big Data in the life sciences. In this report, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy (CSTS P), the Biological Countermeasures Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate (FBI/WMDD/BCU), and United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)seek to:
– Examine the risks and benefits associated with Big Data analytics;
– Develop frameworks for risk and benefit assessments of emerging or enabling technologies, such as Big Data in the life sciences; and
– Identify options for U.S. government action to further characterize the risks and benef its from Big Data analytics and to mitigate potential risks

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