Introduction
Data mining is the art and science of identifying knowledge, insights, and patterns in data. The process assumes that past information can predict or reveal patterns to help project the future (Maheshwari, 2014). Data mining has evolved to become an integral part of every business. The number of cases where unsolicited data has been used to target customers has increased. This essay will discuss the rights of retailers to use acquired data and whether free services provided by social media platforms are a fair bargain.
Use of Acquired Data by Retailers
The government provides regulations on the type of data that can be collected and how it can be used. Retailers like Target have developed strategies that help them collect the information they need from their clients. The case study shows that the company could predict pregnancy based on data collected from a client. This allowed the firm to target the client with advertisements that were tailor-made to their needs.
The firms are allowed to use the client data as they deem fit due to the lack of a comprehensive privacy law that protects all client data (Klosowski, 2021). Government agencies tasked with privacy regulation ensure that a vast variety and quantity of data is available to interested parties (Maheshwari, 2014). This ensures that the data accessed by individual companies have been assessed thoroughly.
Retailers collect data for different purposes. The case study presents a situation where a client’s private information was obtained without their consent. Target used the information to provide unique advertisements. Sending messages to customers using information collected illegally represents an invasion of privacy. The company should have informed the client of the type of data it collects and provided the customer with a choice on whether they are okay with the data being collected.
Free Services
The changing dynamics in the technology world mean that there will be an increase in demand for consumer data in the coming years. Facebook and Google are two technology companies offering their clients free services. In exchange for free services, organizations mine consumers’ data to target them through advertisements. The move has provided significant advantages to businesses as the data has helped create ads that have increased sales for their partners. However, the targeted advertisements represent an invasion of privacy for the clients as they are powerless when these organizations collect their data (Huang et al., 2023).
The exchange may not be considered a fair bargain, as one side has more power than the other. The data is crucial to how businesses operate, which means that organizations benefit significantly from mining the emails and blogs of their clients (Klosowski, 2021). Data mining has advantages, but the process should be implemented based on relevant privacy laws. Clients need to have a choice on the type of data that they are comfortable sharing with businesses.
Conclusion
In summary, data mining has become integral to how many businesses operate. The process is advantageous as it allows the companies to provide targeted advertisements to clients. However, issues of privacy and the lack of a choice for consumers represent a challenge. The owners of the information need to decide how their data will be used. Therefore, enacting privacy laws that enhance how data is collected and used can protect consumer rights.
References
Huang, Y., Li, Y. J., & Cai, Z. (2023). Security and Privacy in Metaverse: A Comprehensive Survey. Big Data Mining and Analytics, 6(2), 234-247.
Klosowski, T. (2021). The state of consumer data privacy laws in the US (and why it matters). The New York Times. Web.
Maheshwari, A. (2014). Data analytics made accessible. Seattle: Amazon Digital Services.