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Cited by 143Privacy, Security, and Data ProtectionEthics and Social Impacts of AIWeb Data Mining and Analysis

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 22 of the 23 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Ethical issues in web data mining

Open access
van Wel, Lita, Royakkers, Lambèr·2004·Ethics and Information Technology
DOI 10.1023/b:etin.0000047476.05912.3d
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Abstract

Web mining refers to the whole of data miningand related techniques that are used toautomatically discover and extract informationfrom web documents and services. When used in abusiness context and applied to some type ofpersonal data, it helps companies to builddetailed customer profiles, and gain marketingintelligence. Web mining does, however, pose athreat to some important ethical values likeprivacy and individuality. Web mining makes itdifficult for an individual to autonomouslycontrol the unveiling and dissemination of dataabout his/her private life. To study thesethreats, we distinguish between `content andstructure mining' and `usage mining.' Webcontent and structure mining is a cause forconcern when data published on the web in acertain context is mined and combined withother data for use in a totally differentcontext. Web usage mining raises privacyconcerns when web users are traced, and theiractions are analysed without their knowledge.Furthermore, both types of web mining are oftenused to create customer files with a strongtendency of judging and treating people on thebasis of group characteristics instead of ontheir own individual characteristics and merits(referred to as de-individualisation). Althoughthere are a variety of solutions toprivacy-problems, none of these solutionsoffers sufficient protection. Only a combinedsolution package consisting of solutions at anindividual as well as a collective level cancontribute to release some of the tensionbetween the advantages and the disadvantages ofweb mining. The values of privacy andindividuality should be respected and protectedto make sure that people are judged and treatedfairly. People should be aware of theseriousness of the dangers and continuouslydiscuss these ethical issues. This should be ajoint responsibility shared by web miners (bothadopters and developers), web users, andgovernments.

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. M.J.A. Berry and G.S. Linoff. Mining the Web: Transforming Customer Data. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2002.
  2. R. Clarke. 'Profiling’ and Its Privacy Implications. Privacy Law & Policy Reporter, 1: 128, 1994.
  3. R. Clarke. Platform for Privacy Preferences: A Critique. Privacy Law & Policy Reporter, 5 (3): 46–48, 1998.
  4. J.F. Johnson. Immunity from the Illegitimate Focused Attention of Others: An Explanation of our Thinking and Talking about Privacy. In A. Vedder, editor, Ethics and the Internet, pages 49–70. Intersentia, Antwerpen Groningen Oxford, 2001.
  5. K. Scribbins. Privacy@net, An International Comparative Study of Consumer Privacy on the Internet. Consumers International (http://www.consumersinternational.org/news/press releases/fprivreport.pdf), 2001.
  6. A. Vedder. Privacy and Confidentiality. Medical Data, New Information Technologies, and the Need for Normative Principles Other than Privacy Rules. Law and Medicine, 3: 441–459, 2000.

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Metadata

Authors
van Wel, L., & Royakkers, L.
Affiliations
Eindhoven University of Technology (NL)
Corresponding author
Royakkers, Lambèr
ORCID
Royakkers, Lambèr
Venue
Ethics and Information Technology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2004-06
Volume
6
Issue
2
Pages
129-140
ISSN
  • 1388-1957 (ISSN-L)
  • 1572-8439
DOI
10.1023/b:etin.0000047476.05912.3d
OpenAlex
W2149394571
Cited by
143
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
FWCI
7.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Ethics and Information Technology (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • TU/e Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion)
  • TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Privacy, Security, and Data Protection
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Web Data Mining and Analysis
Keywords
web mining, ethics, privacy, individuality, web content mining, web structure mining, web usage mining, customer profiling, data protection, shared responsibility, fair treatment

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