The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP Releases Paper on Big Data and Analytics

WASHINGTON ― February 28, 2012 ― The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP today released "Big Data and Analytics: Seeking Foundations for Effective Privacy Guidance," a paper intended to help organizations and policymakers develop a governance framework for the use of analytics that protects privacy and promotes innovative uses of "big data." The paper is the product of an industry-sponsored initiative led by the Centre.

"Big data processes have the potential to provide us with insights and to identify trends that were not possible before," said Martin Abrams, president of the Centre. "To reap the benefits of big data one needs a privacy framework that individuals and privacy enforcement agencies can trust."

The paper offers three real-life examples of uses of big data processes. For each it describes the data used, the process by which the data is analyzed and the algorithm is applied, the benefits created, and how risks to individuals are mitigated. The paper uses the examples to illustrate big data processing steps. Further, it sets out the challenges to analytics and big data raised in current law, regulation and traditional notions of fair information practices. Finally, it describes the two-phase approach to processing that mandates organizations conduct a risk assessment both when data is used to discover trends, and then when used in applications.

Vice President of Global Policy of the Centre Paula Bruening said, "This paper suggests a two-phase approach that separates the discovery of what data can reveal from the application of those discovered insights to arrive at knowledge and decisions upon which organizations can act. This approach lays the foundation for workable, effective governance."

To view the paper, click here.

About the Centre

The Centre for Information Policy Leadership leads public policy initiatives that promote responsible information governance necessary for the continued growth of the information economy. The Centre was founded in 2001 by leading companies and Hunton & Williams LLP to develop innovative, pragmatic approaches to privacy and information security that take into account the requirements of business processes and address the concerns of individuals about the protection of their information. Collaborating with industry leaders, consumer organizations and government representatives, the Centre develops information policy that fosters privacy and information security, while balancing economic and societal interests. More details about the Centre can be found at www.informationpolicycentre.com.

About Hunton & Williams LLP

Hunton & Williams LLP provides legal services to corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals, as well as to a broad array of other entities. Since our establishment more than a century ago, Hunton & Williams has grown to more than 800 lawyers serving clients in 100 countries from 19 offices around the world. While our practice has a strong industry focus on energy, financial services and life sciences, our experience extends to more than 100 separate practice areas, including bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, commercial litigation, corporate transactions and securities law, intellectual property, international and government relations, regulatory law, products liability, and privacy and data security.