Includes bibliographical references (pages 193-214) and index.

Conceptualising data -- Small data, data infrastructures and data brokers -- Open and linked data -- Big data -- Enablers and sources of big data -- Data analytics -- The governmental and business rationale for big data -- The reframing of science, social science and humanities research -- Technical and organisational issues -- Ethical, political, social and legal concerns -- Making sense of the data revolution.

"Traditionally, data has been a scarce commodity which, given its value, has been either jealously guarded or expensively traded. In recent years, technological developments and political lobbying have turned this position on its head. Data now flow as a deep and wide torrent, are low in cost and supported by robust infrastructures, and are increasingly open and accessible. A data revolution is underway, one that is already reshaping how knowledge is produced, business conducted, and governance enacted, as well as raising many questions concerning surveillance, privacy, security, profiling, social sorting, and intellectual property rights. In contrast to the hype and hubris of much media and business coverage, The Data Revolution provides a synoptic and critical analysis of the emerging data landscape."--Excerpted from publisher's description.