Database Technology and Privacy Issues

Assignment, Discussion

Spring 2025

The major purpose of this assignment is to have you do some academic library research involving the issues of databases and privacy, then do some critical thinking and analysis about these issues, and finally present the results in an organized and professional post (do not submit extemporized personal opinions). (Tip: Don't forget about the resources found at Writing Assignments: APA Style, and Library Research InformationLinks to an external site..)

Cultural analysts have argued that privacy is less important to a generation that grew up with YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and texting. On the other hand, this same generation has grown up with database technology more ubiquitous and capable than ever before. Think about how many times this week you've been involved (knowingly or not) with database systems. How do you think the tension between privacy and database technology will or should play out as powerful database applications become ever more pervasive in our world?

Don't just post your opinion -- do some research and cite studies, give anecdotal examples, create hypotheticals, etc. You must include cites. Your post can be insightful and creative, it can be scholarly, or it can be both; it should not be just your personal opinion.

My first idea is that my information can be found in records from at least 15 different database systems just from my activity this week alone. This article on the RedSwitches blog (https://www.redswitches.com/blog/examples-of-databases/Links to an external site.) lists some common examples of activities that we likely take part in on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis, where we can expect our information to be stored. Some examples are more obvious, like when purchasing an airline ticket, we can easily imagine the airline listing our name beside our ticket number, flight numbers, seats, destinations, age, sex, and more. But also interesting is how the local sub shop I visit each week also likely stores my information. It may not be much, but some or all of my card information is likely stored with some summary of my order, along with a date and time. That ends up being a lot of information, and can be pieced together to create an even better picture of my life!

The RedSwitches blog also mentions online learning platforms (like this one!), company HR departments, and email services. It is important to understand that every email you send or receive is attached to you in some way, somewhere in a database, and is one piece of the puzzle.