'This is now baked into our system': concern raised over fate of democracy in big data era

As stories emerge about the collection and use of data to influence political outcomes around the world, the question is turning to how democratic systems and institutions can stand up in the big data era.

Mike Larsen, president of the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association and a professor of criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, says the fundamental understanding of how politics work is shifting.

“We are still operating with an analogue version of democracy in our heads,” Larsen said. “We