The use of data mining can be a powerful tool to understand societal preferences and address consumer needs. However, no good comes without a complementary bad. Discuss (200 words)
Refer – The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 7 years
KEY POINTS
· The rapid rise of data science is creating far-reaching possibilities to analyse vast quantities of most complex data in real time.
· It helps us to get insights in to various issues that can assist us in taking best-informed decisions across sectors.
· Data science generally tends to produce win-win scenarios for the practising organisations and their end users.
· For example, its application in election processes can make it possible for various political parties to understand their voters better, and to reach out to them more effectively.
· The insights derived after analysing feedback from the electorate can be used while creating manifestos, formulating policies, and selecting candidates.
· These steps can essentially usher in a more transparent and participatory democracy.
· Nevertheless, there are growing fears that applications of data science, along with large social media platforms could violate privacy of citizens and vulnerable to a serious breach of trust.
· For instance, there was a data breach at Facebook, which saw allegations of the U.K.-based Cambridge Analytica (CA) illegally accessing over 87 million users’ information for personalisation of digital campaigns.
· Then there were allegations that the official mobile apps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Congress party had sent user data without consent to foreign companies for analytical purposes.
Way forward
· These events call for the expedited creation of strong data privacy and protection laws, without which our newest fundamental right will remain easily exploitable words on paper.
