The rise of digital devices has unleashed a powerful, unseen force transforming our lives, from personal details to global events: Big Data. This real-time collection and analysis of information is helping us solve major problems and is essentially creating a new planetary awareness. However, as revealed by Edward Snowden and the Prism documents, this vast amount of data comes with significant risks. *The Human Face of Big Data* explores both the potential benefits and dangers of this revolutionary shift in how we understand the world.