What’s your anonymity worth? Establishing a marketplace for the valuation and control of individuals’ anonymity and personal data

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 353-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Cory Robinson

Purpose The viability of online anonymity is questioned in today’s online environment where many technologies enable tracking and identification of individuals. In light of the shortcomings of the government, industry and consumers in protecting anonymity, it is clear that a new perspective for ensuring anonymity is needed. Where current stakeholders have failed to protect anonymity, some proponents argue that economic models exist for valuation of anonymity. By placing a monetary value on anonymity through Rawls’ concept of primary goods, it is possible to create a marketplace for anonymity, therefore allowing users full control of how their personal data is used. This paper aims to explore the creation of a data marketplace, offering users the possibility of engaging with companies and other entities to sell and auction personal data. Importantly, participation in a marketplace does not sacrifice one’s anonymity, as there are different levels of anonymity in online systems. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a conceptual framework based on the abstractions of anonymity and data valuation. Findings The manuscript constructs a conceptual foundation for exploring the development and deployment of a personal data marketplace. By suggesting features allowing individuals’ control of their personal data, and properly establishing monetary valuation of one’s personal data, it is argued that individuals will undertake a more proactive management of personal data. Originality/value An overview of the available services and products offering increased anonymity is explored, in turn, illustrating the beginnings of a market response for anonymity as a valuable good. By placing a monetary value on individuals’ anonymity, it is reasoned that individuals will more consciously protect their anonymity in ways where legislation and other practices (i.e. privacy policies, marketing opt-out) have failed.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ka Ki Lawrence Ho ◽  
Ying-Tung Chan

Purpose This study aims to examine Hong Kong’s responses to COVID-19, arguing that Hong Kong’s relatively low infection rate is due to self-discipline of citizens together with the enforcement measures introduced by the government. Design/methodology/approach This study reviewed the government policy announcements and the prevailing scholarly analyses on Hong Kong society during COVID-19. Findings It starts by examining the partial lockdown and control measures since mid-January, and the roles of different government units in enforcement were examined and assessed. Suppression of viral outbreak in Hong Kong should primarily be attributed to the appropriate lockdown and quarantine actions of the government. Originality/value However, outperformance of the frontline professionals and the highly aware, self-disciplined and mutually aided citizens in the community are also the key to the “interim success” by June 2020 in the highly accessible and densely populated city.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayada Abd El-Aziz Youssef ◽  
Essam Moustafa

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the existence of two sets of factors societal institutions and management control systems’ (MCS) characteristics in the UAE business entities. Subsequently, this paper empirically examines the bilateral and the multivariate associations between the two sets. The societal institutions include six factors categorised in three main groups: cultural conventions, state structures and policies and skill development and control. The MCS characteristics consist of four factors which are: reliance on formal rules, control over the behaviour of employees, involvement of subordinates in target setting and performance evaluation and scope of information used in performance evaluation. Design/methodology/approach – Whitley’s model (1999) is adopted in the UAE business environment and the analyses are performed at the organisational level. Qualified accounting officials and managers are surveyed. The Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s partial correlation and multiple regression are used for data analyses. Findings – Findings reveal the characteristics of the UAE societal institutions and the MCS in UAE organisations. They also reveal significant associations among four of the societal institution factors and most of the MCS characteristics. The results highlight the role played by the government structures and policies group in influencing the MCS characteristics in the UAE organisations. However, these results do not entirely agree with Whitley’s model. Research limitations/implications – The results of this study are restricted by the typical constraints associated with the survey method. The obtained results have implications for researchers and managers in facilitating the understanding of the relations among the various societal institutions and the MCS characteristics. Originality/value – This research, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, provides significant new empirical evidence into the relation between societal institutions and MCS characteristics in a non-Western economy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Matzner

Purpose – Ubiquitous computing and “big data” have been widely recognized as requiring new concepts of privacy and new mechanisms to protect it. While improved concepts of privacy have been suggested, the paper aims to argue that people acting in full conformity to those privacy norms still can infringe the privacy of others in the context of ubiquitous computing and “big data”. Design/methodology/approach – New threats to privacy are described. Helen Nissenbaum's concept of “privacy as contextual integrity” is reviewed concerning its capability to grasp these problems. The argument is based on the assumption that the technologies work, persons are fully informed and capable of deciding according to advanced privacy considerations. Findings – Big data and ubiquitous computing enable privacy threats for persons whose data are only indirectly involved and even for persons about whom no data have been collected and processed. Those new problems are intrinsic to the functionality of these new technologies and need to be addressed on a social and political level. Furthermore, a concept of data minimization in terms of the quality of the data is proposed. Originality/value – The use of personal data as a threat to the privacy of others is established. This new perspective is used to reassess and recontextualize Helen Nissenbaum's concept of privacy. Data minimization in terms of quality of data is proposed as a new concept.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Rahmawati Sururama ◽  
Tiara Nanuru

The objectives of this study are to find out the role of the Ambon City’s Population and Civil Registration Office in Controlling Incoming Migration and to find out the obstacles faced by the Ambon City's Population and Civil Registration Office in Controlling Incoming Migration. This study used a qualitative descriptive research method. Data Collection was obtained through observation, interview, and documentation. Data were analyzed using data reduction, display data, and verification. Primary and secondary data were used as the sources for analysis. The informants in this study were the chief of the Population and Civil Registration Office Ambon City and the Population Monitoring and Control Division, as well as the migrants. Ambon City’s Government, through the Population and Civil Registration Office, has carried out its duties as regulated by the Mayor of Ambon Regulation No. 17/ 2009 article 14 paragraph 2, namely: Coordinating the monitoring of urbanization of population and supervising the registration of population mobility flows. The constraints faced by the Ambon City population and civil registration office, namely: Most of the population who migrated to Ambon City did not report themselves so the authorities had difficulty monitoring the flow of urbanization and monitoring population mobility; inspected and supervised residents, who have not lived in Ambon city for six months, have moved to other areas; there is no effort and awareness of people who have been examined and under supervision to change by reporting personal data to the government.


Subject The Azerbaijani president's capture of greater powers. Significance Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has concentrated more power in his hands through a series of constitutional changes approved in a September 26 referendum. Although democratic institutions barely function, Aliyev has removed the potential for parliament to challenge him. Impacts New personal data protection rules will block media access to the financial dealings of public figures. The government now has formal rights to seize private property at will. Businesses are vulnerable to regulation to preserve 'state interests'.


Subject India’s data ecosystem and reform outlook. Significance Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second government is expected to revive its effort to enforce a new data protection framework. The draft 2018 Personal Data Protection (PDP) bill, deferred due to the April-May general elections, will be tabled afresh when the new parliament convenes from July. Impacts Policy push for data localisation and relatively open access to competing firms will not be reversed. This will be welcomed by large domestic corporates, while alientating foreign ‘big tech’. Cybersecurity of data stored by local corporates and the government will remain poor.


Subject E-commerce outlook. Significance Indonesia’s e-commerce sector is booming. The government is adopting business-friendly regulations, but the sector’s future growth still faces multiple constraints. Impacts Jokowi’s recent re-election as president promises continuity to investors and policy inertia in areas such as personal data legislation. The lack of personal data protections makes Indonesia a laggard in South-east Asia. Bricks-and-mortar businesses, facing unequal tax burdens, will pressure the government for a level playing field.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanyi Chen

Purpose Tax risks are common in China but often ignored by enterprises. Determining how to measure tax risks and effectively identify and control influencing factors is the key to the sustainable development of enterprises. This study aims to explore the key factors affecting corporate tax risks and analyze influencing factors from external and internal perspectives. Design/methodology/approach After selecting a data set comprising 11,503 firm-year observations of Chinese firms in the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2008–2017, this study applied a panel regression model to identify the factors’ impact. Findings The results indicate that the more standardized the institutional environment and stronger the tax supervision, the lower the tax risks. Taking into account the internal factors of a firm, private companies with political connections have lower tax risks than those without. Originality/value This study enriches the literature on the factors affecting tax risks. The conclusion provides significant insights for enterprises to effectively control tax risks and maintain sustainability. The research findings also provide a new perspective for the government to guard against corporate risks and maintain the stable development of the economy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 201-222
Author(s):  
Omri Ben-Shahar ◽  
Ariel Porat

Personalized law requires massive information, and this chapter examines some of the problems relating to the accumulation of personal data in the hands of the government. It first surveys what kinds of information would be needed and how lawmakers might hope to acquire that necessary data. While much information is already available in government databases, is it realistic to expect commercial databases to share the data with the government? The chapter then shifts to asking how the personalized commands would be communicated to actors. It argues, counterintuitively, that in important areas, private actors may often find it easier to know their personalized command than figure out the uniform command. Finally, the chapter examines problems of privacy and data protection, arising from the accumulation of data in the hands of governments. It argues that privacy interests vary across people, and thus privacy protection—like other aspects of personalized law—could itself be personalized, allowing people to opt out of some privacy-sensitive personalized treatments.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 794-810
Author(s):  
Budi Waluyo

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the practices of financial autonomy and control the emerging issue of agencification in the higher education sector. Design/methodology/approach The practices are investigated using case studies from seven semi-autonomous state universities in Indonesia. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 respondents including university officials, policymakers, and experts. The interview results were analysed using an inductive-deductive approach. Findings This research highlights an unstable balance between financial autonomy and control practices in the universities. Autonomy supports agencification mainly by simplifying financial procedures and control is seen by university managers to be overemphasised compared to in the other state universities. Despite successes in introducing a business-like atmosphere within bureaucratic universities, questions about balancing financial autonomy and control remain. Research limitations/implications The small number of cases implies limited generalisability. The two characteristics used, size and parent ministries do not represent all university variabilities. Practical implications Agencification has become a key reform practice for state universities. Rather than using a “one size fits all” approach, the government needs a repertoire of models for these institutions. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence of agencification in the higher education sector with an emphasis on the financial dimension of autonomy and control in a developing country setting.


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