Let’s shed some light on the (often misunderstood) relationship between online data and privacy.
When it comes to using big data for market research or competitive analysis, it is easy, especially if you are a manager and not a technician, to mix things up and misunderstand some notions.
Perhaps you happened upon this article precisely because you are an entrepreneur considering what moves to make to turn your business around and have identifiedmarket analysis with online data as the right one.
And so far so good.
But a little word that is increasingly talked about has burst into your mind: privacy.
You may have thought,“But with all the privacy issues, will it be legal to take people’s data and put it in the service of my business?“
Nothing to say, you acted very responsibly and rightly tried to see more clearly. And we at Central Marketing Intelligence are ready to reassure you and illuminate this dark corner.
So let’s see what you should know about the relationship between big data and privacy!
This is why using big data does not expose you to the risk of privacy breaches.
Let’s start by telling you that the study of big data for market research and marketing has nothing to do with cybercrime or cyber espionage.
The moment you turn to amarket research agency like ours to investigate what is happening in your target industry, you are doing nothing more than taking advantage of the vast amount of data that people themselves, every second, are generating and feeding into the network.
You are not going to steal private data such as passwords or bank details in short, but simply to commission research that can help you get a clearer picture of a certain situation of your interest.
Actions aimed at getting a response on trends in a specific market or figuring out what is the widespread opinion of people about a certain topic for example, are absolutely legal and the privacy issue does not really arise.
And do you know why?
When you access big data you are going to capture an innumerable amount of anonymous interactions and actions on the Web and analyze them in a 360-degree fashion without focusing on each individual user who generated them.
Read also: Market research, what it is and what are the differences with marketing research
The object of interest precisely is not to know the first and last name of all the users who have done a Google search in a month, but to know how many have done so, within what dynamics, and for what reason.
In fact, when it comes to big data, personal information is not really highlighted, partly because it is not useful and functional for the kind of observation you intend to do.
However, even when the data itself does not pose a danger, care must be taken with its use.
Let us explain further.
How data use could go about invading people’s privacy.
We said that big data does not show sensitive data. However, while they do not constitute an invasion of people’s privacy, they can be used for purposes that could in some way give rise to such an issue.
How?
Well, through the study and analysis of big data one comes into possession of a great “power”: that of having a very broad vision capability.
Using this power to create campaigns to influence the way people think or do things can be a privacy issue on a moral level. Of course, whether people allow themselves to be influenced or not is their responsibility.
Taking actions based on the results of market research is part of a business owner’s normal course of action, and as long as you are not using third-party personal data to structure your ads, the problem does not arise.
The difference between big data and small data.
It is different when small data are exploited in addition to general data. This kind of data highlights the names and surnames, email addresses, and IP addresses of those who make a purchase on Amazon or those who search on Google.
In this case, one observes data in great detail, and a use of sensitive data to serve one’s own purposes without authorization constitutes a violation of privacy.
But if your goal is to get answers from market research all that is not your concern. Also because you are not the one doing the exploring within the vast world of data.
That’s what we at Central Marketing Intelligence are here for!
Read also: Business Information & Big Data: today the answers are online!
Big data in the service of business? No privacy problems if you act properly.
Our agency brings to the table a unique opportunity for you: that of receiving a detailed report with respect to what your business goals are.
Through revolutionary research methods combined with the use of the best tools on the market, we can harness the power of big data to your advantage. And we don’t just look for the data and study it, but we are committed to coming up with an action plan that is applicable right away so that you can get the results you aspire to.
All of course with full respect for privacy, since the data we are going to study will be Big.
What do you say? Do you feel ready to take the next step?
Talk to one of our experts for immediate advice.
Contact us now!
