In the era of big data, the right to privacy is becoming one of the key topics of modern society. Every day, the amount of information collected about users is growing: smartphones, social networks, online purchases, search queries, location trackers – all this forms a detailed digital portrait of a person. Companies and governments are gaining access to data that can tell more than a person is willing to reveal. In this context, protecting privacy becomes not only a legal but also an ethical issue.
Big data opens up a wide range of opportunities: from personalized advertising and smart cities to fighting crime and pandemics. But behind the convenience is a threat – personal information leakage, unauthorized access, manipulation and discrimination based on data. Often a person is not even aware of what information is being collected about them and how it is being used.
Many lawyers believe that traditional approaches to privacy protection are outdated. Consent to data processing in the form of a long text that no one reads cannot be considered an informed choice. Anonymizing data does not always guarantee security: algorithms can be used to re-identify individuals by a set of seemingly innocuous characteristics.
Different countries are responding to the challenges in different ways. Europe has the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which sets strict requirements for the collection, storage, and use of personal information. Users have the right to access, delete and prohibit processing of their data. In other parts of the world, legislation is less stringent, creating digital inequality.
The future of the right to privacy is about finding a balance. On the one hand – innovation and technological development, on the other hand – personal freedom and control over one’s data. This requires not only tougher laws, but also the development of digital literacy, transparency of algorithms and the responsibility of organizations to users. Privacy in the era of big data is not only a right, but also an obligation to protect one’s digital identity.