Stanford CIS

Tracing Some of Big Data’s Big Paradoxes

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"Professor Richards called attention to what he calls the “Three Paradoxes of Big Data,” and began his presentation with a cartoon depicting a patient at a doctor’s office. The doctor asks the patient, “Would you mind if I transplant this GPS device under your skin?  It will be painless.” The patient reacts in horror with a painful grimace, eyes filled with fear, and perspiration flying off his face, and cries out, “No, that would be an invasion of my privacy!”  In the next frame, the doctor replies, “The devise will also have a camera, store your music and photos, provide access to the Internet, and allow e-mail and texting.” The patient looks greatly relieved, and eagerly responds, “Great! How quickly can we get started?” Ha! This illustrates the paradox according to Professor Richards – we are willing accomplices to trade off our privacies if we perceive that we are getting a meaningful benefit in return. But, how far does this extend?"

Published in: Press , intellectual privacy , Privacy