pollinate SCIO

What is it: A little online zine article about the ways corporations are beginning to use the vast stores of data at their disposal. The lead example is that credit card companies, by tracking what you purchase, can predict life-changing events, such as getting divorced, as a way of forecasting someone is more likely to default on their card loan.

Why is it cool: Data mining is a hugely untapped resource, and one which can be potentially very valuable (as the above example, allowing credit card companies to better manage risk, illustrates). Whilst one has to wonder at the possibilities, it’s also potentially questionable what could be done with this information – much the same way DNA testing of the unborn could potentially be used unscrupulously.

Where to find it: here!

Submitted by: John Cucka