Actively vs. Passive Volunteered Personal Information

Abstract

Research work description: Masters Dissertation addresses the broad area of Information Self-Determination. The primary focus of this research project is to gain a better understanding of control in informationbased relationships, specifically those that impact on self-determination.1 This MSc dissertation will include a quantitative study of the dissemination and control of information for a better understanding of the differences between actively controlling personal information as oppose to passive controlling of personal information through a contract and third party relationship. Background The evolution and development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) over the last decade has been transforming society from a manually processed information infrastructure, consisting of predominantly paper based information practices and processes, to an automated information environment, which consists of society saturated with advancing ICT. Considering that the volume of information is expected to double every 11 hours by 20102 innovative information and identity management tools need to quickly evolve in parallel to deal with the challenges massive amount of data is going to create. It is to this discourse that his research responds. In order to design this research and make this research operational a framework has been developed through the distinction of actively and passively controlled Volunteered Personal Information (VPI) in varying types of information exchanges. Defining actively controlled VPI as managed by the individual and passively controlled VPI as managed by an organization or third party through the use of contract. Active VPI as a distinction in the research framework assumes an activity where an individual has usable access to information3 as well as control of this personal data described in self -determination. Transparency over Access to personal information is critical in understanding the quantity and the quality of information an individual can actively and passively control and apply to any given context. Self determination as developed by John Locke4 can be seen in these current issues in modern information society. Issues that are increasing in prominence through a rapid expansion in the distribution and access to personal information. It is also a research question within this project to measure the awareness people have of the information relationships that exists in the exchange of information, in order to ascertain a better understanding of the quality of the information relationships commonly entered into. It is predicted that measurements relevant to autonomy in this field will have a dramatic effect on the development of policy5 as well as provide tools to guide technological change in areas exemplified by regulatory patching6 of information systems across boarders. These research paramaters have lead to operationalizing this research project with a deductive question: How does the current information environment reflect self-determination in the measure of active and passive VPI?