Expert Group Meeting on Big Data

The Caribbean region needs to take full advantage of the data revolution. Big data - a critical element of this revolution - is the term used to describe the enormous amount of digital information that is generated when people go about their daily activities, including shopping, talking, texting, internet surfing, and traveling. It also includes information about natural phenomena generated and/or transmitted by machines, including satellites. The main characteristics of these data that qualify them as Big data are that they are large in volume, they are generated very frequently and they cover a multitude of issues from a great number of sources.  

So far, Big data has been harnessed mostly by the private sector, and now governments in the region need to get on board and take full advantage of the challenges and opportunities.