Data mining is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as "the automatic extraction of useful, often previously unknown information from large databases or data sets." This means that a company can pay for access to your personal information and use it to market information or products to you. It is very useful for companies because they can get useful and valuable information about their customers. It is not always good for the customer though. Many consumers do not like being bombarded with advertisements and promotion.
Data mining becomes troubling when it becomes intrusive. This has become an issue with pharmaceutical companies obtaining information on physicians and patients. Many companies are paying for information from doctors and from pharmacists to better target customers and to observe what drugs physicians are prescribing. There is a fine line between being helpful and becoming intrusive.
As a result, state law makers in West Virginia are investing the data mining that is occurring by pharmaceutical companies. There is talk that the state is going to make laws to control or eliminate certain types of data mining. For more on this topic, there is a link for the article below.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1539273/pharmaceutical_data_mining_focus_of_inquiry/
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As a marketer, I recognize the benefits of data mining. However, as an individual, I am often concerned about the intrusive nature of data mining. The article you found is especially interesting and somewhat disturbing because it deals with the healthcare/pharmaceutical industry. Information in the healthcare industry is heavily regulated. I would not be surprised to see the government step in and set some restrictions for pharmaceutical companies as well.
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