大數據時代的個人資料保護

Data Protection in the Age of Big Data

近年來有關大數據的討論方興未艾，且大數據分析也廣泛地應用於企業管理、市場行銷、社會科學研究、公共政策制定乃至國家安全等多個領域。大數據的特點是對大量不斷增加、種類多元的資料進行快速之分析和處理。透過創新的演算法，大數據分析可以更深入地瞭解人類的特性、行為和相關的個人關係。因此，政府和企業無不致力於蒐集、分析和分享有關個人的詳細資訊。大數據分析中固然有顯著的社會利益，然而這些技術的運用也可能帶來個人、群體和社會的重大風險。
本文首先就大數據之發展和風險以及個人資料在大數據時代的重要性為一概述。繼而就大數據分析所產生的個人資料保護問題為探討並就如何遵循個資保護原則提出建議。大數據社會面臨的挑戰是一方面需確保個資當事人的保護，另一方面又不能阻礙新資訊技術的持續發展。回應這個困境，首須認知，隱私保護永遠不會是過時的價值，個資當事人的保護和運用大數據帶來的利益也不是對立的二元存在。至於如何平衡這兩個利益，本文得到結論是，追求大數據的利益，必須先確保個資保護基本原則之遵循。

Big data has been discussed so often in recent years and being applied in a number of fields, including management, marketing, social and scientific research, public policy making and even national security. It is characterized by processing and analysis of data in huge and ever increasing volume, variety and velocity. Through innovative algorithms, big data analytics change the traditional forms of data analysis and create a new approach to gain deeper understanding of human characteristics, behavior, and correlate relationships about individuals. Therefore, governments and businesses tend to collect, analyze and share detailed information about individuals. There are clear social benefits to be derived from big data analytics. However, the use of these technologies is also associated with significant risks to individuals, groups, and society at large.
This paper begins by outlining trends, risks and the role of personal data in the age of big data. It is then intended to give an overview of the data protection issues arising from big data analysis and suggest how to comply with the data protection principles. The challenges of the big data society are to ensure the protection of data subjects on the one hand and not to hinder the ongoing development in new information technologies on the other hand. To give an answer to the dilemma, it should be recognized first that privacy is never an outmoded value and the protection of data subjects and the benefits of big data are not two opposing interests. In considering how to balance these two interests, this paper comes to the conclusion, that the benefits of big data can only be sustained by complying with the key data protection principles and safeguards.