Self-serve grocery stores and real-time face tracking. These are just some of the technologies Big Data makes possible. But experts at the China International Big Data Industry Expo say individuals should be aware of the risks Big Data poses. CGTN's OMAR KHAN has the details.

From getting the call to arriving at the scene, it takes less than three minutes. The lost child is found and brought back to his family in no more than half an hour. This is all with the help of Big Data. After receiving calls and getting pictures from the family, police will use video to conduct real-time tracking. Once the child is identified via face recognition technology, the system will alert officers in the area. The power of big data goes beyond finding lost children.

XU YAN, DIRECTOR BLOCK DATA COMMAND CENTER, GUIYANG POLICE "For suspects on the run, once the system identifies the individuals, it will automatically alert us. The patrolmen on the streets will follow the report to capture the suspects."

With the help of face recognition technology and big data systems, police have set up more than a thousand face recognition monitoring locations. In addition, Guiyang Police have formed a block data command center. It collects dispersed data held by different departments to assist in investigations.

XU YAN, DIRECTOR BLOCK DATA COMMAND CENTER, GUIYANG POLICE "Our next goal is to use 20 percent of human capital to analyze alerts and reports produced by big data, while 30 percent is for investigation on the ground. 50 percent of the human force will be left for the rest of the work."

While Big Data aids in solving petty crimes and makes everyday life easier, experts at the Big Data Expo say the collection, storage, and open access to Big Data can lead to risks the public should know about.

WU HEQUAN CHINESE ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING "In the future, we should not only accelerate research and development, but also achieve autonomous control. In addition, we need to develop a mindset about privacy protection. Netizens need to improve on self-protection in the big data world."

Experts say it's important to ensure network and privacy safety in the world of Big Data, in light of the Cambridge Analytica scandal in the US.

It's a responsibility individuals, service providers, and the government should share. CGTN.