Big Data – the hot new trend in business, technology and science – is the subject of a talk by writer, comedian and broadcaster Timandra Harkness at the University of Winchester.

In her talk Timandra considers the technical, social and political challenges raised by Big Data and asks whether its increasing use signals a crisis of trust in human decision-making, using real-world stories to illustrate her argument.

“Big Data knows where you’ve been and who your friends are, what you like and what makes you angry,” says Timandra. “It can be used to predict all aspects of your life, from what you’ll buy to where you’ll be the victim of crime and when you’ll have a heart attack. It claims to know you better than you know yourself. The really big question is: exactly how well do we know Big Data and its potential impact on all our lives?”

Marion Oswald, director of the Centre for Information Rights and senior fellow in Law at the university, added: “The use of digital devices, Big Data and artificial intelligence to take decisions previously made by humans represents one of the biggest challenges of our age. The Centre is delighted to be hosting Timandra's talk and contributing to public debate of these issues.”

Timandra is author of Big Data: Does Size Matter? which was published earlier this year by Bloomsbury Sigma.

She presents FutureProofing on BBC Radio 4 and is resident reporter on the station's social psychology series The Human Zoo.

Recent live shows include Your Days Are Numbered: the maths of death with stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, which toured the UK and Australia after being a surprise hit on the Edinburgh Fringe.

She is also a Visiting Fellow in Big Data, Information Rights and Public Engagement at the University of Winchester, based in the University’s Centre for Information Rights in the Department of Law.

The centre examines the overlap between information and privacy law, and new technologies and methods of data analysis.

Big Data: Who’s in control with Timandra Harkness is on at 6pm on January 10 at the University of Winchester’s West Downs Campus, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5HT. Places are free but booking is essential via winchester.ac.uk/CIRevents