Privacy and Big Data

Chapter 5. Making Sense of It All

“Like it or not, we live in interesting times.”^[64] Coined by Robert Kennedy in a graduation speech to the National Union of South African Students in 1966 (with some argument as to whether its origins lie in a Chinese curse or proverb), Kennedy was alluding to the ongoing Civil Rights movement:

“Like it or not, we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also the most creative of any time in the history of mankind. And everyone here will ultimately be judged -- will ultimately judge himself -- on the effort he has contributed to building a new world society and the extent to which his ideals and goals have shaped that effort.”^[65]

Every generation faces seminal moments in history where a path must be taken and that path will shape the future. There are always inflection points where the unknown becomes known. There are always moments when the actions we take have unintended consequences; how we deal with those consequences will define us as individuals, businesses, governments, and countries.

The Internet is a powerful, disruptive force. It has altered the world in fundamental ways, creating waves of change across the economic, social and political landscape. The collection of so much personally identifiable information via our laptops, iPods, Smartphones, and the Internet of Things has been combined with cheap and accessible big data technology that can capture, analyze, and make predictions based on the digital ...