Commentary on the Article Big Data and Privacy by Tom Price

Crawford and Schultz (2014) summarized Big Data as “a generalized, imprecise term that refers to the use of large data sets in data science and predictive analytics (p. 96). The various sources of retrieving and generating information has expanded and exposed its vulnerability, especially to health data. A single breach holds risks of sharing critical information from a multitude of patients’ records. Predictive privacy harms, which are collected information that centers on individual data behaviors, have the potential to sidestep existing antidiscrimination regulations, but also lead to privacy breaches in healthcare (Crawford & Schultz, 2014). In the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Jones there were concerns expressed about invasions of privacy that could result in direct collection of large amounts of personal information through Global Position System (GPS) monitoring. This type of governmental power is vulnerable to abuse, endangerment of privacy rights of citizens, and weaken trust in the government (Crawford & Schultz, 2014). Crawford and Schultz (2014) state that John Locke and William Blackstone defined liberty, as it pertains to an individual, as an “unabridged natural right follow his or her own will”. (p.111) In a sense, if an individual believes privacy fits the bill, then it should be respected and left alone. Big Data faces many obstacles when it comes to the topic of privacy. The question of how to correctly respond to each challenge may vary, but success can come if both just and achievable protections are present for those at risk for this type of

There are several positive uses of big data including the development of more accurate weather prediction systems, research and production of self-driving vehicles, making cities smarter, and collecting more data during exercise in order to train in the most efficient way. The essential item in keeping this straight is striving to develop policies that reflect our ideals and then implementing it. This falls on the shoulders of the government. Minimizing the gap between the implementation and policy can be achieved through various venues. Transparency is of paramount importance when dealing with surveillance and entrusting other entities with personal information. If any person is being spied on or having information collected, they should know about it and of course it should be legal. Google as a service is a good example. Although using Google’s services are “free” to use, it sells our personal information to other companies for surveillance capitalism and marketing. Google should have an agreement or make it clearly known that this is what is happening and then provide an option to pay for its services directly and not disclose user’s information. Additionally, companies that participate in such behaviors should be legally bound with well-defined terms and be regularly

Technological advances are dramatically modifying the face of our society. Even though technology does indeed make it possible to efficiently accomplish many tasks, advanced technology does come with a price. More specifically, new technology developments often create unforeseen issues when it comes to privacy; a valuable human aspect. According to Kearns, a William and Mary School of Law graduate, many privacy concerns raised by advances in surveillance and information technologies are widely recognized, recent developments have led to a convergence of these technologies in many situations, presenting new challenges to the right to privacy (Kearns, 1999). Such argument is supported by the American politician Richard Rovere, who believes that, “Technology has made us all a great deal more dependent upon one another than we ever were in the past and necessarily, therefore, less able to protect our own privacy.” (Rovere, 2007). However, advanced technology does seem to have positive effects on our society when it come to the protection of government information privacy, “It is important to acknowledge the sense in which privacy-invasive technologies are (and can be) neutral.” (Marx, 2007). Yet, as society enforces these technological advancements, it seems that the problems such developments create outweigh its benefits. In actuality, rapid advanced in technology and their capacity to gather immense information increases the risk of privacy invasion, violation of civil

The amount of data produced in the world is increasing exponentially, and we are a part of this phenomenon. We all use email, phones, social media, and credit cards. The new technologies that we are bringing home, such as smart cars and smart TVs, are collecting more and more data. Boyd and Crawford exposed the imperfections of the Big Data industry, and they have shown that we cannot assume that the industry will solve its own problems. By using all these technologies, we have given Big Data access to our finances, social interactions, homes, and minds. Big Data offers imperfect people tools that can be used for good and evil. If we are blind to how our data is being collected, the industry will continue misusing our data. But if we pay attention, and demand the technology companies respect our privacy, they will be forced to have higher standards. Currently, our society has ignored how our privacy is being jeopardized. As Boyd and Crawford noted, we don’t have the tools and access of researches, and our often unaware of the algorithms collecting our information (759,760). But we do have power. We can voice our concerns, or find alternatives to services that don’t respect us. We can use the tools we have access to for good, just like Big Data has been used

[2] Since then there have been occurrences involving governmental agencies, software applications, and social media information gathering about personal information without consent. Privacy is still a new concept for Americans and will continue to evolve with technology, as well as other aspects of

Recently the topic of privacy has been brought up in the news since President Trump signed a bill to repeal internet privacy, giving internet provider companies the right to sell your internet history (Fung, 2017). Some say this is isn’t right, and that the government has no right to delve into our business. Other people think that as long as you aren’t look at anything bad, you should have nothing to worry about. Privacy isn’t an entirely necessary thing to have, but it is a nice thing to have. And in today’s world, where technology is taking over almost every aspect of our lives, soon enough the government might be able to control us.

On the pro side of the debate we find a lot of the most powerful tech companies and research firms up against regulatory agencies and civil rights advocates. Proponents argue that aggregate data collection is harmless, makes our live easier, and is not invasive. Critics argue that the aggregate collection and manipulation of personal data for corporate use is akin to the big brother analogies and use terms like “psychological warfare.” Proponents argue it is the ‘currency of the digital economy.’ The ‘digital economy’ referred to is already highly privatized, with the news media, tech companies, US Federal Government, and increasingly politicians themselves are among many players that benefit from aggregate data collection.

Mark Zuckerberg claimed that privacy is no longer a “social norm” (theguardian.com). In the case of Edward Snowden’s revelations, what constitutes privacy is still a fervent debate. Privacy is not binary, being either private or public, but exists in an intermediate state. Privacy is not secrecy, or keeping information strictly to yourself, but awareness of who access to it, who can use it, and who can disclose it (Richards 410). With big data, potentially identifiable metadata is perceived as a loss of privacy. Privacy is more than mere protection against the collection of data, but control over the flow of information. Data brokers and companies signify an asymmetrical control (cbsnews.com). Today’s privacy laws incorporate the “Fair Information Principles”, where consumers regain control over their personal information (Richards 412). Companies employ “privacy self-management” with privacy notices and the choice to opt out of agreements before disclosing personal information (Solove 1880). Few read the entire “terms and conditions” before giving consent and fewer follow its modifications. This creates a “consent dilemma”, describing consumer difficulty in weighing cost to benefits of service (Solove 1881). It would take users hundreds of hours per year to accomplish this task (Richards 413). Privacy oversight cannot be regulated solely by government, but must be implemented by the companies to

Big Data is an expansive phrase for data sets so called big, large or complex that they are very difficult to process using traditional data processing applications. Challenges include analysis, capture, curation, search, sharing, storage, transfer, visualization, and information privacy. In common usage, the term big data has largely come to refer simply to the use of predictive analytics. Big data is a set of techniques and technologies that need or require new forms of integration to expose large invisible values from large datasets that are diverse, complex, and of a massive scale. When big data is effectively and efficiently captured, processed, and analyzed, companies

“In recent months, a series of news reports have brought public attention to the collection of individual data by government agencies.” In discussions of the advanced use of technology, one controversial issue has been the practice of mass surveillance which is used by the American government. On one hand, individuals argue that there are several advantages of surveillance technology; for instance, these types of systems are believed to limit the number of criminal activity within an area and easily detect suspects. On the other hand, others oppose the surveillance theory because they believe that it is against our constitutional right to privacy. My own view is that the technology that we rely heavily upon today is steadily bringing us closer to the world of Big Brother because the government has the ability to collect information from devices that are constantly being in use such as cell phones, televisions, and computers without our consent.

Progress causes ideas and values to change over time. Technology is causing the most rapid evolution of our society and greatest progress mankind has ever faced. “A big part of what’s going on is that technology is racing ahead and our skills, our organizations, our economic institutions aren’t keeping up, and that’s leading to a bigger and bigger mismatch, a grinding of the gears. Because if those things don’t mesh, you end up with a lot of disruption and dislocation.” The rapid pace of progress will continue to test our society’s abilities to adjust values, adapt governing laws and most specifically define and protect individuals privacy rights. Is it worse when regulators and legislators take action in the face of technological progress, or when they sit idle? The regulators’ dilemma is when it is appropriate, necessary, or even possible to intervene amid rapid technological change .Our nation has changed a great deal, but never has it faced this speed and volume of change.

Today, it seems as if everyone is connected through his or her own cell phone. With this they create data and information, intentionally or not using them. This information can be collected from applications, text messaging, and simple just walking around with a cell phone connected. This data may be analyzed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and other association relating to human behavior. The creation and use of this data is what today’s society puts under the large umbrella of big data. This paper discusses the ethics of collection practices and use of big data.

As citizens of America we are all entitled to our rights of privacy. When something threatens this guaranteed privacy we tend to take extra precautions to prohibit prolonged violation. As the advancing world of technology continues to grow and expand, so do the amount of cases involving privacy invasion. Technology drives these privacy-invading crimes; however, crime also drives technology, creating a vicious cycle. Without technology an invader could not enter that of a stranger’s life. Conversely, without technology that same criminal would evade the law enforcers. So does technology protect citizens’ privacy, or does it expose one’s entire life? In regards to this question, one must

Marc Kosciejew states in his article titled “The Perils of Big Data,” that, “Big Data can cause catastrophic miscalculations if the underlying data is poor, mis-analyzed, or used misleadingly or unwisely.” (34) This means that data is dangerous, if it is not kept to strict privacy laws. In this day and age, someone’s career can be lost due to a simple phrase that spread across the internet like wildfire. (Doughty) The leaking of data can have disastrous effects if said data is used for harmful intent. The chances of “personally identifiable information” increasing privacy concerns are raised when certain factors work together. (Sherer 10) Data has a way to prevent us from recognizing that something is not right with the information produced, because we are unknowingly held to the product of our data. (Kosciejew 34) Data is given a form of truth which it has not earned. (Kosciejew 34) Today, data is used to rule over our lives in ways that cause serious damage. This vulnerability is known as the “dictatorship of data.” (Kosciejew 34) Many people have lost

Big data is an extensive collection of structured and unstructured data. It is a modern day technology which is applied to store, manage and analyze data that are not possible to manage, store and analyze by using the commonly used software or tools. Since all of our daily tasks are overtaken by the modern technologies and all the businesses and organizations are using internet system to operate, the production of data has increased significantly in past