, Columnist
What If Data Scientists Had Licenses Like Lawyers?
Maybe they would make fewer horrible algorithms.
Held to a higher standard than the typical data scientist.
Photographer: Rey Del Rio/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Data scientists, if they’re poorly qualified or act irresponsibly, can do at least as much damage as lawyers and doctors. The algorithms they create can ruin lives, aggravate social divisions, even facilitate genocide.
Which makes me wonder: Why shouldn’t they have a professional association to guide and police their behavior, like lawyers and doctors do?