Is Big Data at Risk of Unleashing Big Brother?
23.05.12
Privacy is always a flash point. With the advent of big data, privacy is only going to be even more of a concern. The fact is that many sources of big data contain highly detailed information on what people are doing. While there are many very valid uses for most of these big data sources, it is critical that companies, governments, and other institutions, such as universities, take privacy very seriously.
As consumers have become aware of some of the data that is being collected about them, there has been backlash. Recent flare-ups with web companies like Facebook are good examples. The extent to which the tracking of behavior on the internet occurs – with Facebook, Google, and other public sites capturing data about who you are, what you are doing, where you are going, and what you want – is not known to most people. Even though many privacy policies technically declare intentions to collect and use data, the dozens of pages of “legalese” terms used aren’t read or understood by most people. There is often not a fully transparent, opt-in process with plain language declaring corporate intentions. In addition, some companies have pushed the limits of what their privacy policies technically allow. This is a bad practice that has resulted in trouble.
Source: Smart Data Collective