A number of technological forces are converging to create an unprecedented ability for enterprises to collect and analyze information. The ubiquitous connectivity of the Internet, the massive amounts of available data (e.g., from supermarket checkouts and security cameras), along with improvements in pattern recognition technologies such as data mining and face recognition are all combining to create an environment where enterprises can learn more about their customers and employees than many individuals would feel comfortable sharing.
Although understanding customer behavior and motivations can potentially lead to ever-more-targeted products and services, concerns around privacy also inevitably arise. As a society, we tend to think that because a technological advance is possible, it is also desirable.
