Course:LIBR559A/Pascalev, M. (2017;2016)

Citation

Pascalev, M. (2017;2016). Privacy exchanges: Restoring consent in privacy self-management. Ethics and Information Technology, 19(1), 39-48. doi:10.1007/s10676-016-9410-4

Annotation

Mario Pascalev believes privacy self-management is obsolete in the era of big data and he proposes a creation of Privacy Exchange Authorities (PEA) (Pascalev, 2016, 2017, pg.39). The PEA would enable individuals to define their own privacy terms when dealing with data companies (Pascalev, 2016, 2017, pg.39). The PEA would streamline the process for individuals by allowing the user to choose what information to provide to a big data company. Pascalev believes the only way to gain control of individual privacy is to use big data technology in return (Pascalev, 2016, 2017, pg. 40).

Pascalev's methodology is to explain the history of big data privacy policies and how PEA would help ease the current privacy issues with big data. Privacy policies are written to be wordy and confusing to the reader, Pascalev says. He backs up his claim by writing about how users do not have the time to read the policies, even the most cautious users. The big data companies intentionally do this to their advantage. The PEA would allow users to choose their privacy options and relay it to the big data companies. The big data companies would then either accept the terms, return to the user for changes, or refuse the user's privacy selections.

There are many weaknesses with Pascalev's proposal. First, Pascalev is too much of a technology determinist. The idea of using big data to counter big data does not make sense. Second, Pascalev says PEA could be public, private, or non-profit service providers (Pascalev, 2016-2017, pg. 43). These service providers could charge fees for the services, which would make the service available only to those who can pay. Third, Pascalev mentions that PEA would be specific to the user. This can be exploited as well, which Pascalev (2016,2017) in "Privacy Exchanges: Restoring Consent in Privacy Self-Management" writes, "Additionally, in order to identify the most suitable options for her needs and values, the user could receive assistance by volunteer or for-fee privacy advisors, similar to getting tax advice" (pg.45). Users should not have to seek outside advice when it concerns their own privacy. Overall, as novel as an idea of PEA is it is a naïve proposal.

Keywords

Big Data, Privacy

Page Author: Elizabeth Moyer