정보권력의 견제와 균형 -빅데이터 환경의 함의를 중심으로-

The evolution of human societies has been characterized by the increasing capacity to collect and manage information. The Big Data paradigm underlines the fundamental role of control over information; in terms of competitive advantages in the business world, and in terms of an increased possibility of social control by governments and groups of power. Control over the information deriving from Big Data is not accessible to everyone, as it is based on the availability of large datasets, expensive technologies, and specific human skills to develop sophisticated systems of analysis and interpretation; so, big global-information companies and governments with control power over the information are in the best position to take advantage(or likely to abuse) of Big Data. In the age of Big Data, individual information subjects, who produce various valuable information, are driven to suffer in terms of privacy, transparency, identity and autonomy. In order to establish a desirable ‘checks and balances’ in information power; a mandatory notification of the creation of large databases to independent (international) authorities, rights to access to information and open data policies with practical availability for individual information subjects are different ways to increase the transparency of the information society and data sharing; they reduce the level of control over information and limit the advantage of Big Data owners in terms of technical and cultural analysis skills.