3. Big data

Guildford is the director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Beijing. Under his watch, CDC has expanded its big data program extensively. A widespread reporting network is established across the whole country. Any outbreak of infectious disease anywhere in China will be reported within six hours. In a conference talk, Guildford announced confidently, “SARS like epidemic will be a thing of the past in China. CDC is sleepless so the public can sleep tight at night.”

After the talk, it was discussion time. Sam was a participant of the conference. He questioned, “You only mentioned CDC will be reported about an outbreak of an infectious disease in six hours. But the public may not be alerted about the outbreak.”

Guildford said, “The public will be informed soon after CDC is alerted.”

Sam said, “In most big data collections, the public is not informed of the results. Companies often use big data to better target consumers. More consumers get into debts because of the more efficient advertising generated by big data. Big data benefit the collectors. They don’t necessarily benefit the public.”

"In general, big data greatly enhance the information gathering ability and control for headquarters. As a result, decision power further consolidates to headquarters. Local branches have neither authority nor incentive to respond actively to emergent situations. Any initiation from local branches are viewed with suspicion from the headquarters. Indeed,  local branches are more eager to display loyalty and obedience instead of competence. Any independent  information source will be viewed as a challenge or rival to central authority.  As a result, big data further monopolizes information gathering and releasing to headquarters. It reduces the number of channels of information transmission. This could be disastrous in some critical moment."

Guildford responded, “We are not a commercial operation. We are a government agency. We are here to protect people.”

Sam said, "In Soviet era, spores of anthrax were accidentally released to the public. Many people died from that. But the accident was covered up for a long time."

Guildford said, "That was Soviet era. That was long ago. Today is a different era."

Sam said, "Today, big data system is more powerful than ever. The central government has tighter grip on the local governments than in the Soviet era. The governments monitor people’s behaviors more intensively than in the Soviet era.

Guildford said, “This is off topic. We at CDC are concerned about disease control.”

Sam said, “I am from Wuhan, a city of more than ten million people. It is China's research center on viruses. If viruses leak from a lab in Wuhan, will CDC inform the public within six hours? Does CDC have the authority to inform the public directly? Will people, under big data surveillance, be deterred from reporting infectious diseases?"

That topic was beyond the control of Guildford. He said, "Thank you. Others may have more questions."

Soon after the first few SARS like cases appeared in Wuhan, CDC was alerted. It reported the cases to the crown. It quickly mobilizes its staff. As soon as the crown make the authorization, CDC will unleash its formidable power to quarantine the public and eliminate the disease. But the expected response from the crown did not arrive.

Several days later, China Crown Television (CCTV) broadcasted the confessions of several Wuhan doctors for spreading the false rumors about an unknown infectious disease. The big data systems track down those doctors easily. Guildford was puzzled. Apparently the crown is very aware of the seriousness of the disease.  Military institutions started to refuse entry of any outside visitors to avoid infections. The Institute of Virology started to search for vaccines in a frenzy.  Guildford could only speculate why the crown suppresses the information about the disease to the public. He couldn’t make an announcement to the public about the impending epidemics. But he has to do something, anything to protect himself from future blames of inaction. He organizes a group of well known experts for a high profile trip to Wuhan to “gather information”. 

Wuhan officials receive these innocent looking experts from Beijing. The crown, through the broadcasting of CCTV, has forbidden the spread of rumors about the infectious disease. Why these idiot experts still come to Wuhan to “gather information”?  It is merely their bad luck that Wuhan is the center of research on viruses. The Wuhan officials have to out innocent those innocent looking experts. They have heard none of the rumors about the infectious diseases. The Wuhan governments distribute free tickets so people can have a great time in the parks. They organize large community gathering so people can mingle together freely. Wuhan is a completely normal city.