"Data is the new gold."

This is a phrase that has been floating around. While it certainly isn't literal, it does underscore what we have already seen in previous lectures, that data can be an extremely valuable resource. It can help us guide our business strategies, understand both customers and competitors, predict future trends, and even train AI systems to help many aspects of our organizations. This data can also be used to improve products and customer service. This is especially important in an age of AI$,$ where high quality training data is one of the most important factors contributing to successful development efforts. Plus, if we don't use data, someone else will, further incentivizing companies to use it to some extent even if they try to keep it to a minimum.

However, there is growing backlash about the retention of data, particularly personal data. Web trackers monitor your every move on the Internet, social media sites analyze almost everything you do $($and even retain text you delete before you even post it$!),$ and just about every purchase you've ever made is associated with you. Some operating systems transmit data directly from the system's internals in ways you cannot control. Even non$-$computing devices are not free of this, with modern cars being comparable to data sponges, even recording personal conversations. Even if this data is not misused, it may be sold to organizations without these scruples $($possibly during bankruptcy proceedings$)$ or hacked. Much of the time, agreements that users are beholden to are difficult to decipher and are so ubiquitous that you must "agree" to them to live even a vaguely modern life.

Because of these concerns and this conflict, many governments are developing legislation to place stricter limits on the ways data can be gathered and used. The EU has adopted strict rules that are considered some of the best in the world. While the United States has not reached this level, demand for this type of protection has been increasing and has been established on a state level in many instances, including California. Furthermore, respect for personal privacy is sometimes used as a marketing selling point, with increasing numbers of people trying to get away from data companies $($e$.$g$."$de$-$Googling" their computing experiences$).$

As you are going to be business professionals, you should consider this situation, and also consider the viewpoint of both the business and consumers. With that in mind:

Where do you stand on this? How should businesses treat consumer data? Where is the balance between privacy and practical organizational capabilities? When presented with an agreement involving this data, just how much are you able to actually agree to it as opposed to having little practical choice? What should the role of regulation be$?$

Please consider these questions and write a few sentences on this topic, no more than a paragraph. Just a few of the sentences will do$.$ Answer a few of the questions briefly. Then, post your response. Then reply to two of your classmates, once again, with only a few sentences. Be polite and considerate in all responses. Make sure that your posts consist of more substance than "yes!" or "I agree!" or $"$no$!"$ Be thoughtful with your posts, and remember that there are not necessarily any inherently right or wrong answers to this, as it is a discussion. Grading for this discussion is on a pass$/$fail basis.

NOTE: I am not asking for you to write a novel. The most important thing is you should demonstrate that you thought about the situation and can briefly articulate your opinion.