The responsibility for the legal and ethical handling of ­confidential data is transferred to the data user who must also be connected to the technical infrastructure for the ­monitoring of the correct use of data. Every access is recorded and ­automatically evaluated. Misuse can be discovered, the ­person can be notified that it has happened, and, if necessary and ­enforceable, criminal ­prosecution can be initiated. However, this will require significantly more intelligent systems as well as a legal framework which are at this time still in the developmental stages. But network operators can pro-actively monitor and push ahead with this approach to data protection so that one day the ­telecommunications industry can serve as a role model for other sectors. 

The creation of transparency is a necessary prerequisite for the systematic exploitation of opportunities which are provided by a conjunct analysis of all of the data sources available to a mobile network operator. More and more frequently, customer-specific information is required for the optimization of current services and the generation of new ones. On the technical side, this requires a close meshing of all data sources with the aid of spatial data mining. Operators must implement the appropriate systems and adapt existing data analysis processes – the isolated handling of existing data sources for specific purposes as in the past sets clear limits to the development of innovative services.  

Further, operators can skillfully make use of the necessary protection of the customer’s privacy to set themselves apart from competitors. Going beyond simple compliance with ­international legal frameworks, they offer customers control over and ­transparency about the personal data sent on the ­Internet and actively support a stricter accountability for the ­actual data users. The balancing act between service ­optimization and ­improved data protection would succeed – but ultimately the control of each person’s transparency is with one person only: the transparent customer.  

References: 

A. Westin: Privacy and Freedom, Atheneum Press NYC, 1967S.

Matthes: Sag mir wo du bist, Wirtschaftswoche 18/2009

C.Stöcker: Wie uns Gadgets an Konzerne fesseln, Spiegel online of 22. July 2009

D. Weitzner, H. Abelson, et al.: Information Accountability, Communications of the ACM, 2008