14 Dumbest Things In Star Trek Nemesis

Data’s “brother” B-4 claims to have no memories of his life before he was on the planet where the Enterprise found him. To help B-4 realize his potential, Data chooses to copy his memory engrams into him. He does this with Picard’s blessing, even as LaForge warns that B-4 would have all Data’s memories as well, adding, “Maybe he's not supposed to be like you, Data. Maybe he's supposed to be exactly the way he is.” Data’s rationalization, “That might be so, but I believe he should have the opportunity to explore his potential,” is troubling.

While that unilateral decision is questionable enough, what’s dumb is that both Data and Picard are okay with this memory copy at all. Data’s memories include personal interactions and information about his friends and colleagues they might not consent to share, and decades of memories about his Starfleet service, including metric tons of sensitive data about Starfleet, starships, and missions covert and otherwise. How’s that a good idea? And how could anyone think it was appropriate?

And, sure enough, B-4 accesses the ship’s computers to try to get information to assist in Shinzon’s evil plans. Could he have done this had not Picard approved this literal Data Dump?

LAFORGE: I still can't believe the Captain went along with a memory download.

Neither can we, Geordi. Neither. Can. We.