Polonetsky, Jules and Omer Tene. "Privacy in the Age of Big Data: A Time for Big Decisions." 64 Stanford Law Review Online 63, February 2, 2012.
From the essay: "We live in an age of “big data.” Data has become the raw material of production, a new source of immense economic and social value. Advances in data mining and analytics and the massive increase in computing power and data storage capacity have expanded, by orders of magnitude, the scope of information available to businesses, government, and individuals. ..Data create enormous value for the global economy, driving innovation, productivity, efficiency, and growth. At the same time, the “data deluge” presents privacy concerns that could stir a regulatory backlash, dampening the data economy and stifling innovation. In order to craft a balance between beneficial uses of data and the protection of individual privacy, policymakers must address some of the most fundamental concepts of privacy law, including the definition of “personally identifiable information,” the role of consent, and the principles of purpose limitation and data minimization.” Read more
See Also
"The Privacy Paradox: Privacy and Its Conflicting Values." Stanford Law Review Online, Symposium Issue.