I don't think I've ever respected just how dangerous Data could be.

There's the episode where he takes over the ship (hardcoded command from Dr. Soong) which really highlights how powerful he is.

And the episode Elementary My Dear Data where the ship created a completely self-aware program in the holodeck that started to take the ship over just because Geordi accidentally asked for an opponent that could challenge Data, not Sherlock Holmes.

Data really could have wrecked everybody’s shit if he had actually wanted to.
- Oh my god that episode. And then they create the program for the villain to live in indefinitely and all of that, I kind of loved how that storyline played out.
- Also the episode when Lt Brocolli gets super smart and takes over the ship computer using the holideck.
I don't see how star fleet allowed Data to remain onboard after that one. Being in the tech industry I often feel the Federation's infosec is lacking in often trivial ways (unless the episode calls for better security of course 🙂), but maybe they have just accepted that sort of thing as the cost of doing space business since it happens all the time. So Data's benefits out weigh his risk.
- If all the TV shows are in the same universe, I wonder how they allowed Data to join at all after the debacle that was Control.
- I can't recall if this episode was before or after they had a trial to determine whether Data was new life. It seems like accepting he is too much of a security risk would suggest that he is more machine than intelligent life. Perhaps those things aren't mutually exclusive though. A human could be compromised in various ways as well, but not completely against their will.
That episode is honestly kind of terrifying after you've got used to Data being basically just a lovable dork.

Just look at Lore. He wiped out a colony, and could do far worse damage if he was both more competent and stable. It eventually escalated to the point where Data had to shut him down, due to the danger he posed to the rest of the Federation.

How did lore destroy the colony?
- Technically Lore didn't do it himself, he summoned the crystalline entity which killed everyone.
- He summoned the crystalline entity through unknown means, which came and turned the colonists into sand.

Data is the Pitt Bull of the Enterprise. When he’s protecting the crew he’s amazing, but watch out if he snaps.

Computer, establish a security code for access to all functions previously transferred to bridge.

1734-6732-1476 Charlie 3278-9777-643 Tango 732 Victor 731 1788-8732-47 6789-7643-76.

Lock.

Weak-ass password doesn't even contain special characters. Also, oddly limited to Earth Arabic numerals in a universe with hundreds of sentient alien species.
- I may be missing the sarcasm, but including dashes and spaces, it's 83 characters longs. It's effectively unbreakable.

I thought picard was crazy for questioning data in his quarters alone in clues. Especially after they confirmed something was wrong with him by catching him in a lie.

The problem is that the Federation is extremely conservative about the use of AI and human enhancement, so once you drop in someone like Data and allow him equal rights, there's a wild power mismatch. So he can wreck havoc if he goes rogue.

Data would never be able to pull off the shenanigans he did on Brothers against a Culture craft. Even if he's not going up against a Mind but "only" the humanoid crew, he wouldn't have such a crazy advantage.

Lore was always more fun.

My favorite Lore moments:

[pretending to be Data] Often Wrong's got a broken heart - Can't even tell his boys apart.
Back off, or I'll turn your little man into a torch. I promise him exquisite pain unless you obey me too, brother."

I heard that in Milton's voice from Office Space.

I heard Ralph Wiggum for some reason.

This is why, despite Picard's moral objections to having pets, he doesn't dare broach the subject of Spot with Data.

Lore was always more fun.