Big Data: The Shell Investigation
The ocean of information abounds in the digital hemisphere. When you know what you’re looking for and how to find it, nothing is out of reach. It’s an uncomfortable reality for many law-abiding citizens who value privacy, but it can also be an important tool in professional pursuits like journalism. Documentary series VPRO tested that potential in Big Data: The Shell Investigation, a convincing look at the oil giant’s $2 billion debt to the Iranian government.
In 2002, as Iran built up its nuclear arsenal, the international community began to retaliate with increasingly tough sanctions. American and European business interests are deterred in the region, with most fleeing to protect their reputations and bottom lines. The events come at an awkward time for the British and Dutch multinational Shell. The company is embarking on a multibillion-dollar project in Iran to tap the country’s vast natural gas reserves. Questions remain about the company’s dealings with Iran during this period and the nature of its massive debt to the country. There is also evidence that the Dutch government may have encouraged Shell to continue doing business in Iran despite its public statements of support for international sanctions.
The filmmakers follow a group of journalists as they toil to find answers to these questions. Investigators have encountered only resistance from Shell representatives in their quest to find the truth about big data. They combed through more than 250,000 WikiLeaks documents and consulted various online sources such as Wikipedia and LinkedIn. Through these extremely common and easily accessible channels, they can assemble convincing factual narratives. These results may not be achievable through outdated survey practices alone. However, big data allows these results to flourish within a few keystrokes in search engines.
Big data: The Shell investigation documents the unfolding of its central mystery piece by piece. It’s fascinating to see how it all comes together. The film also sheds light on the state of journalism in our digital age and how it has changed the way we create, share and access information.
Directed by: Shuchen Tan
