好萊塢電影中經常會出現這樣的鏡頭:FBI或者CIA通過調用各渠道數據信息后便能將犯罪嫌疑人的行動軌跡摸清楚,然后悄無聲息地出現,將其拿下。現在,這樣的情形已經是現實了。隨著數碼電子技術的普及,人們的日常生活活動都會留下相應的數據使用痕跡,英文叫做data shadow(數據影子)。
A data shadow refers to the sum of all the small traces of information that an individual leaves behind through everyday activities. A data shadow is a minute pieces of data created when someone emails, updates social media profiles, swipes a credit card, uses an ATM, and so on. The concept of a data shadow has become a serious concern because it is difficult to control who is looking at a person’s data shadow, what conclusions they are drawing and what actions they are taking based on those conclusions.
Data shadow指一個人的日常活動留下的各種信息痕跡,即“數據影子”。發送電郵、更新社交網站狀態、刷信用卡、使用自動取款機等等行為產生的點滴數據構成一個人的數據影子。這個概念開始引起關注是因為,誰在查看個人的數據影子、他們會從中得出什么結論、以及他們會在此結論的基礎上采取何種行動,這些都是無法控制的。
This can happen when an employer, for example, fires an employee based on his or her Facebook friends or photos. Data privacy laws exist and more are being created to prevent abuse of a person’s data shadow. Unfortunately, privacy legislation generally lags behind companies' ability to collect, compile and analyze data.
比如:某個老板可能以某個員工在Facebook上的朋友或照片為由將其開除。我們已有一些數據隱私法律,并且為了防止個人數據影子被濫用,還有更多法律正在制定當中。不幸的是,有關隱私保護的立法總是趕不上某些公司收集、整編和分析數據的步伐。
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(中國日報網英語點津 Helen)