The Companies We Keep - In Search of "Shady" Corporate Activity

Explore the world's first network graph mapping UK public data on corporate control in this illuminating talk. Delve into the partnership between DataKind UK and Global Witness that resulted in a comprehensive database of over 4.5 million companies and 4 million individuals. Learn how this project aims to uncover potential corrupt practices through "shady patterns" in corporate ownership networks. Discover the process of building this extensive data structure using Python tools and a Neo4j graph database. Gain insights into the completeness of the UK's beneficial ownership register and its implications for improving similar public registers worldwide. Presented by Dr. Adam Hill, a data scientist and former astrophysicist, this lecture offers a fascinating look at the intersection of data science, corporate transparency, and investigative journalism.