Happy New Year Everyone!
Fact: Your digital data will more than double in the next year. As we all acquire new devices, we create new data. This is often referred to as velocity of data.
My data predictions for 2017 include:
- New Policies governed by our legal system.
- Legal groups fighting for consumers’ data rights.
- Applications merging personal health data from multiple devices for new analysis.
#1: We need better laws and standards to protect our data. Large companies continue to get hacked leaving the individuals vulnerable to identify theft and other financial problems. Better measures are needed to ensure our data is captured, saved, used and destroyed safety. This would include audits and fines for companies that are not in compliance when collecting your data.
Data is collected on devices via GPS/time stamps, voice commands to always on devices, and (of course) web and application activity.
Data collection for new apps, devices, etc are often defined in the fine print of the terms and conditions, but we quickly scroll through the text knowing we want to download the app regardless of the data price.
We have recently seen controversy over accessing smart phone data history (US government and iPhone) and now there is a murder case that wants access to the Echo/Alexa history for the night in question. What and how information is accessed is still in question for the general public. Which leads us to prediction #2.
#2: We will see multiple class action law suits involing data permissions. There will be a couple of companies that will be in the news and used to set the example. Data sharing is a quite side business that happens with most companies that creates or collects data (a retailer, social media group, web history). As more permissions are breached, customers will demand to know how or why their data was shared and will want full functionality to manage permissions on what data can be used and when. Creating new features and options helping us manage our own data.
We have become so comfortable giving way our data in exchange for access to ‘free’ use of apps and software. But at what cost are we paying in the long run if this data is not protected and can cause significant financial lost if stolen.
#3: I also predict we will be smarter using our health data. Wether the data is from wearables, x-rays or lab results, new applications will make it possible to share and analyize data across application types to identifying new trends and health markers. Forecasting health problems quicker. This will open new opportunities for medicine.