Big data
Big data has become a concept which describes the conditions of extended data collection. We become classified, profiled, categorized on our every click on the internet - and this data is mainly stored permanently (Solove, 2004).
Google, Facebook and Microsoft have data on hundreds of milliards of users. The ubiquitous environment extends the dimensions through locating and recognition of individuals, real-time collection and integration of data - and especially by increased amount and depth of data. Data pools expand rapidly due to the data growth in transactional databases, expansion of multimedia content, popularity of social media and proliferation of applications of sensors in the Internet of Things. (Manyika et al., 2012). And there is more interest on accurate and personal data as well. Personal location data is among the 5 leading fields of data collection globally (Manyika et al., 2012).
Big data doesn't refer to the increased amount of data only, but to the technologies which are used to gather, analyze, link, and compare large data sets and to the analysis of the data used to identify patterns in order to make economic, social, technical, and legal claims. (Boyd & Crawford, 2012, s. 2). The picture offered for consumers of the uses of data e.g. in ubiquitous environment emphasizes providing of personalized services, and personalized marketing. Data becomes as a tailor made suit: personalized services and products are offered for users based on their profiles, classifications and probabilistic predictions of their data.
The other side of the coin is use of the same data for many other purposes: decision making, evaluation and for definition of user's rights, access, benefits and restrictions. Data practically defines citizen's position in a society. And from the perspective of surveillance and censorship, the same data may be utilized to strip citizens from their rights and benefits or even to destroy them.
It becomes less useful to discuss of censorship and data surveillance in specific connections, within a certain institution or even nationally, since the context of data ownership and management has changed. There is no one Big Brother or surveilling party, but a group of possible globally and locally networked actors, public-private partnerships and merging of data from different sources to large data warehouses.
Information regime and respect for the user
During the short history of internet age, cyberspace has become colonized by powerful actors and by competing geopolitical and commercial interests. Censorship is no more limited on publications, books or articles or specific hot issues and totalitarian countries. Control on the internet has become as a global, networked and multi-stakeholder effort which enables third party involvement in data flows and communications. And ubiquitous environment with it's hidden data collection and management practices makes it even less transparent (Karhula, 2008).
In this setting, it becomes unpredictable, who is going to use citizen's data and for what purpose. There is also a growing public awareness of conditions of data surveillance; risks of getting undesired digital profile and possibility of become sanctioned. All these developments will increase consumers' sense of insecurity and vulnerability and inhibit them to engage in self-censorship and self-monitoring to protect themselves. However, many people are not aware of the multiplicity of agents and algorithms around personal data collection, storing of their data for future use, possible uses of their data - and about the dimensions of profitable personal data economy (Boyd & Crawford, 2012)
A global shift towards personal data driven economy has already taken place. It has proceeded mainly without public discussion on citizen's rights to the data related to their own activities or about possible tools and options to protect oneself against inappropriate data collection. This setting recalls for the definition of rights, freedoms and power in relation to data flows and considerations of fair information practices related to the personal information management. As Joseph Turow defines his perspective on data driven economies - an information regime which respect users would be needed (Turow, 2011). New issues do not only concern privacy protection and even civil liberties, but new vulnerabilities of citizen as a target of social sorting - and from the broader perspective it concerns social changes and structures the data surveillance enables and initiates (Lyon, 2003, Lyon, 2006).
Assignments
When was Freedom of Speech and Censorship in the Internet Age -project launched?
What is the main goal of the project?
Why has censorship on the Internet age extended and become more complex.?
Why do not Internet and social media necessarily go hand in hand with the democracy?
Why is the position of media in relationship to censorship versatile?
What does the term “big data” mean? Use the figure below.
Fig.
5.2 Big Data Landscape
What are the implications of big data on media environment?
Why do the impacts of structural changes of media industry may not lead to direct censorship, but rather transform conditions of journalism and change the emphasis of contents?
Do you agree with the following statement: “During the short history of internet age, cyberspace has become colonized by powerful actors and by competing geopolitical and commercial interests”?
Summarize the text.