In recent years, the world has witnessed an explosion of data as billions of new devices connect to the Internet. By some estimates, in the past two years, ten times more data has been created than in all of human history. Though the privacy and security implications of this data remain issues of concern, its potential use cases are significant. When used for good, big data can be used to mine and model various social issues around the world from food shortages to the dynamics of global urbanization.