Lessons from the White House big data report: Learn to protect yourself

[Commentary] Recently, the Administration released a report on big data that highlighted both the positive opportunities of big data collection and how it dangerously compromises privacy, but failed to address the challenge of consumers willfully forfeiting their personal information.

The report emphasized big data’s potential to enhance lives through large scale information gathering. In particular, it noted the ability to create more efficient economic outcomes by identifying ways that industry and individuals can better use their time and materials. But the report also acknowledged that the mass collection of personal information creates significant privacy and security concerns.

Basically, big data can be good, we just need to reconsider how and why we use it and find ways to maximize the outcome while managing the risks. The White House Big Data report failed to pursue one crucial question: if all this personal information is so valuable, why do people give it away so readily and freely? An individual’s personal information is one of his or her most valuable assets. Before blindly signing away their information to the multi-billion dollar industry of consumer data analytics, consumers ought to consider the full cost of their actions.

[Tews is Chief Policy Officer at 463 Communications]