In the era of globalization, where technology is an essential part of most people’s lives, it is very important that companies and governments, which collect personal data from their users and customers using Big Data technology, respect the human rights described in Article 8 and Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Big Data is an emerging technology and practice that enables companies and governments to collect, process, detect and store large volumes of structured and unstructured data quickly and effectively in terms of cost.
The data analyzed through this technology can be generated by people or collected through transactions of data, internet marketing, machine to machine (Internet of Things), and biometrics (retina scanners, fingerprints or readers of DNA strings).
Companies can use the information obtained with Big Data for marketing purposes, human resources, scientific research, etc. Governments may also use the information collected for research, defense, and espionage purposes.
The amount of data created annually is already many Zettabytes and tends to grow. Almost 80 percent of such data are generated by individuals.
One of the articles of the UDHR that are violated with the use of Big Data is Article 12, which states: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”
This article is blatantly violated by numerous companies and governments using Big Data technology, as there is a lot of arbitrary interference in people’s private lives, because they are not asked if they want to be monitored online and that the information obtained is analyzed by others (companies and governments) and decisions are made based on it.
Article 8 is also being violated, which states: “Everyone has the right to an effective remedy before the competent national tribunals, which protects him against acts that violate his fundamental rights recognized by the constitution or by law.”
Current legislation does not provide effective protection to users against the human rights violations they suffer from some of the companies and governments using Big Data technology. It is almost impossible for these users to be able to protect themselves from acts of companies and governments that violate some of their human rights as described in Article 12 (there are no clear and effective laws).
It is important to create laws to protect internet users against the interference of companies and governments in the people’s private lives.
Also important, is that the United Nations’ Commission on Human Rights and other institutions, such as the International Telecommunication Union, draft regulations on the management of internet users’ information that is captured, stored and analyzed with Big Data technology in order to immediately stop the violation of human rights.
