Privacy and Library Statistics

David Weinberg suggests that libraries develop granular usage statistics so that they can do a better job of purchasing materials. Presently most librarians have such strong privacy concerns that they delete all but the most general data.

-DD

Personal Information and Corporate Trust

Marc Ferranti notes that trust issues are a large issue for Web sites that use personal data . Storing personal information allows a Web site to offer a personalized shopping experience, but concerns about data breaches or corporate sale of personal information clouds this advantage.

-DD

Abusing Personal Data Should Be A Felony

Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Chief Security Advisor, is reported to have said that abusing personal data should be a felony . Network World reporter Bob Brown says "He envisions a 'usage-based way of controlling data' under which information would be protected in a sort of cryptographic wrapper (think digital rights management on movie DVDs or music CDs) with metadata defining what can – and more importantly – can’t be done with the data."

Mike Acker made a notable comment on this article: "Everyone should be recognized as owning a Creative Commons Copyright on their Personal Data.   Copying or otherwise selling or distributing such data without written permission from the owner is a copyright violation just like pirating a song, $150,000 per occurence." While the concept is simple, it would inhibit bloggers such as myself, who often use the words of others in their posts.

-DD