We have posted blogs so far about dangers of privacy, but I think we have some benefits by sharing our private information to some degrees. Today I’d like to talk about Data Mining.
Have you ever seen ads when you use Gmail or Facebook? A great number of advertisements will be found on the right side of the pages. So, do you know where these ads come from? It’s from your preferences or your behaviors. These ads are always related to YOU because Facebook and Google collect your information, and investigate what you are interested in now. Computers automatically collect your info through your profile, what you write, and what you receive, and then they find ads related to your preference. Data collectors can find what you prefer, and also analyze how you behave. If women in Oregon are currently interested in organic coffee on Facebook, data collectors can automatically understand what they are looking for now. Moreover, they will find some patterns on it.
This process is called data mining. This technology stems from computer science and human behavioral science. This science suggests that human always have some patterns, so we can transform their seemingly useless data into useful information. Therefore, you can get some useful information from data mining if you give your insignificant information.For another example, users always see what they might be interested in on Amazon.com when they log in to browse. Amazon.com says “you might be interested in these books!” and recommends them. They know your preference as data. It’s very useful for you in order to find what you are interested in now. Therefore, data mining may discover new patterns and theory on human behavior, so this technology contributes to many science fields.
However, your information is automatically going to others even though it contributes toward progress in science and your life. You have to bear in mind someone only sees your information, but also analyzes who you are and how you behave. There is no useless info even if you are not conscious of it. To write your profile and post your photos on Facebook are to make it easy for data miners to collect data and analyze your preference. To sum it up, you give them not only your information, but also your patterns under consciousness.
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Data Mining and Privacy: A conflict in the making?
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