The development of the world and society brings people new challenges and problems that need to be addressed. As the world continues to make advances in technology and collect private information, data breaches have become common, and corporations do not take the necessary steps to protect confidential data. However, regulators have stepped up privacy requirements while consumers have been more careful about sharing their personal information with selected companies. While these facts should balance each other, there are currently many unresolved data collection and confidentiality issues. This paper will look at the underlying challenges and their current solutions to identify the changes that society requires in the collection, use, and protection of data.
The collection of user data is most often aimed at improving services, but consumers’ reluctance to share personal data has increased due to the lack of understanding of what information is being collected and how it is being applied. Most companies guarantee that customers’ information will only be accessed for tracking trends and shortcomings and will not be shared with third parties. However, although data companies can collect emails, they are also “tracking cellphone user’s locations into a digital dragnet for law enforcement” (Valentino-DeVries para. 5). This practice has become widespread in the investigation of crimes since the police have a legal basis for requesting from companies, usually Google, data on customers’ movements and use them as evidence (Valentino-DeVries). This practice also has some restrictions partly ensuring data confidentiality; however, it diminishes users’ confidence in companies and technologies because it means that they are observed continuously, and their information can be used against them.
However, the issue of tracking brings significant benefits to businesses and brands. Third-party data, collected in a software development kit, can add significant value, allowing brands to go beyond their consumer base and grow the size of their targeted audience. Supermarkets, shopping malls, and other public places hide Bluetooth beacons in different parts of the premises to track customers’ movements (Kwet). Such devices respond to retailers’ applications on the phone, record movement, and can determine that a customer has lingered near a shelf and send an alert about a discount (Kwet). Kwet notes, “In the United States, another company, inMarket, covers 38 percent of millennial moms and about one-quarter of all smartphones, and tracks 50 million people each month” (para 11). This approach can benefit both the customer and the company by providing relevant guidance. However, Bluetooth beacons can be rented, and it is difficult to identify who collects what information (Kwet). Consequently, user data can be compromised, but the company responsible for this will be difficult to hold accountable. Thus, another issue of data collection and security arises, lowers users’ confidence, and must be regulated by law.
Nevertheless, the increasingly common problems with information leaks and unethical use of data have forced governments to impose regulations. For example, in 2018, the EU adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which defines the purposes and rules for collecting and storing data, as well as penalties for violating them (Anant et al.). California has passed a similar law, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which restricts the way companies collect and use data and lets users know how their information is used (Anant et al.). Such solutions improved data security and encouraged companies to invest in this area and shape the image of an organization that cares about the privacy of its customers. Anant et al. noted that users are “more likely to trust companies that react quickly to hacks and breaches or actively disclose such incidents to the public” (para. 12). In addition, users themselves have received more opportunities to take care of their data security using various tools that restrict its collection and delete it from some sites.
Furthermore, the issue of data protection became critical during the pandemic, as most of the companies moved most of their operations online. As large companies sent employees to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, IT departments had to find new ways to keep employee and corporate information safe in an increasingly digital workplace. For example, to protect corporate data and provide remote access, employees had to provide the information necessary to connect to secured channels. This information includes “patch and configuration management for the relevant system, multifactor identification, and secure-access management, on-premise application security for remote access, device virtualization capacity and security, and contingency resources” (Mikkelsen, Soller and Strandell-Jansson para. 22). At the same time, companies need to ensure that all this data is safe, as well as develop principles and rules according to which the responsibility for a breach lies with the employer or employee.
Thus, current practices demonstrate that the development of technologies for collecting and analyzing big data is beneficial for companies; however, they often violate the privacy of users’ information. The main problems are ensuring the safe storage of data and the rules for their collection, use, and transfer since the current legislation still has significant gaps. However, governments’ efforts demonstrate that these problems can be solved by the implementation of regulations and laws, although it will take a long time to meet all the emerging issues.
Works Cited
Anant, Venky et al.” The Consumer-Data Opportunity and the Privacy Imperative.” McKinsey & Company, 2020.
Kwet, Michael. “In Stores, Secret Surveillance Tracks Your Every Move.” The New York Times, 2019.
Mikkelsen, Daniel, Soller, Henning and Strandell-Jansson, Malin. “Privacy, security, and public health in a pandemic year.” McKinsey & Company, 2020.
Valentino-DeVries, Jennifer. “Tracking Phones, Google Is a Dragnet for the Police.” The New York Times, 2019.
The Lewis And Clark Expedition Challenges And Outcomes
Introduction
The United States of America gained its independence in the second half of the eighteenth century and developed rapidly. The purchase of new territories was one of the factors that contributed to the geographic and economic growth of the new country (Turner, 2016). The Louisiana purchase that took place in 1803 was one of the most remarkable acquisitions as it more than doubled the territory of the U. S. and offered a plethora of opportunities to Americans (Brooks, 2019). The same year, Thomas Jefferson addressed Congress to approve an expedition to the Pacific Northwest, and the approval was granted for several weeks (Turner, 2016, p. 2). This paper briefly describes some of the most serious challenges and far-reaching outcomes of the so-called Lewis and Clark expedition.
Reasons for the Expedition
The history of the United States can be seen as an illustration of people’s desire and will to explore new lands and new opportunities. Therefore, it is clear that Americans were eager to expand their territories and discover new prospects for their nation. Thomas Jefferson was fascinated by the discoveries of famous explorers, but he was also interested in the development of an easy river route across the continent, which was a popular idea at that period (Brandt, 2018). The route was to facilitate U. S. fur trade and further economic development of the country. Of course, it was important to examine and describe in detail the peculiarities of new lands, which was pivotal for the creation of proper plans for their use.
Major Challenges and Discoveries
The preparation for the expedition took approximately a year, and during this period, its leader Meriwether Lewis was trained to be able to complete the necessary tasks. He had some knowledge in botany, astronomy, and other natural sciences, as well as the cultural peculiarities of some indigenous tribes, but he was taught to navigate, preserve species, and communicate with different tribes (Moulton, 2018). Lewis also recruited people in what was later called the Corps of Discovery and included approximately fifty people (Turner, 2016, p. 121). The U. S. government funded the expedition, and the Corps had all the necessities (including but not confined to money, provision, horses, clothes, weapons, and gifts for First Nations peoples). Irrespective of such financial support, the explorers still had to endure multiple challenges as they had to travel across the wilderness yet to be explored.
One of the most common issues the members of the corps had to address was related to health. People suffered from heat, exhaustion, insect bites, illnesses, and injury (Moulton, 2018). Although they were all young and seemingly healthy, the condition of some people deteriorated due to the peculiarities of their health status. For instance, Sgt. Charles Floyd is believed to have died of a burst appendix, and this was the first death in the Corps of Discovery (Brandt, 2018, p. 88). The expedition lasted two years and slightly over four months, so the travelers had to endure several harsh winters (Turner, 2016, p. 109). They often had scarce supplies during the later months of their voyage, but local people tended to help them with food, shelter, and clothes during the most dramatic periods.
Another considerable challenge the voyagers had to encounter was associated interactions with different Indian tribes. As mentioned above, in the vast majority of cases, Native Americans were helpful, and they gratefully accepted presents from the Corps. They often helped the explorers to arrange their forts and survive in the harsh environments of the west (Turner, 2016). However, the relationships with the Sioux tribe were the most troublesome, and the parties nearly started battles several times during their encounters (Brooks, 2019). Only the wisdom of the chief and the oldest of the tribe and Lewis enabled the two sides to develop appropriate relationships and ensuring the successful continuation of the expedition.
The expedition was a great success in terms of the exploration of the territory of the west. Numerous maps became one of the most important outcomes of the expedition, these maps were further refined and improved, but they were the basis of the development of the Pacific North (Brooks, 2019). Although they had to admit that no proper river route to the west could be used, Lewis and his people described the geographic peculiarities of the rivers and the territories they moved through. The explorers described numerous species and brought various samples, which was essential for the understanding of the peculiarities and commercial potential of the new regions (Turner, 2016). For instance, the Corps encountered grizzly bears that had been unknown before.
Outcomes and Significance
The significance of the Lewis and Clark expedition can hardly be overestimated as it had multiple effects on the development of the United States. First, it was a successful voyage as it reached all the set goals (description of the territory, reaching the west coast, the examination of the cultural peculiarities of the Native Americans that inhabited those lands) (Turner, 2016). One of the expedition’s primary outcomes was that Americans started the exploration and further exploitation of the newly acquired territories (Turner, 2016). This exploration started soon after the purchase and claim of the lands by the Americans. The nation stipulated its commitment to the development of the new lands. As mentioned above, the creation of maps was a critical milestone that marked the nation’s move westward.
The explorers provided vast volumes of data about the territories. Their descriptions of the flora and fauna of the west were extremely important for the creation of plans for further exploration and commercial exploitation of the territory (Moulton, 2018). Lewis and his team also established relationships with the indigenous tribes, informing them about the status of the lands. These peaceful encounters with First Nations were important for the subsequent interactions. The expedition was also an impetus for other brave explorers who commenced their own voyages and discovered new roots and new opportunities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is necessary to note that the Lewis and Clark expedition was one of the most important milestones in the history of the United States. It paved the way for new expeditions that led to the development of the most efficient routes. These routes contributed to the economic development of the country and the commercial exploitation of the west. The interactions of the Corps with Native Americans were also pivotal for the development of relationships between these groups and the American government and new settlers. The expansion of the USA was facilitated by the expedition as Americans proved that they were committed to developing new territories and using them. Of course, the success of the expedition inspired others for more accomplishments, and the expansion of the United States continued.
References
Brandt, A. (Ed.). (2018). The essential Lewis and Clark. National Geographic Society.
Brooks, N. (2019). First across the continent: The Lewis and Clark expedition. e-artnow.
Moulton, G. E. (2018). The Lewis and Clark expedition: Day by day. U of Nebraska Press.
Turner, E. H. (2016). It happened on the Lewis and Clark expedition (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.
NCVS Central Tendency Discussion
From the NCVS, it is easiest to derive the means of the various data presented. With that said, this means will not necessarily be particularly meaningful, as most of the numbers shown in the survey are only loosely related to each other. While the report serves well to illustrate the prevalence of different types of victimization across the United States and in different demographic groups, it does so by presenting an array of numbers that it is not meant to sum up. For example, it would be possible to find the mean of the different types of crime, but it would not serve a useful purpose, especially compared to the total number, which would instead illustrate the situation. The report also does not identify any means because it is focused on singular categories and total numbers. Similar considerations apply to population statistics and the other types of data provided, where they do not form a coherent data set for central tendency analysis.
The case for the mode and the median is the same, where finding them for the provided data would not be productive. However, they are also affected by the absence of large and detailed data sets in the survey, as presented in the document. What numbers are provided are small in quantity and large in size, reaching hundreds of thousands and millions. As a result, they do not repeat often enough to justify the usage of the mode. The information provided by the determination of the median would also be largely meaningless, as it would contribute nothing to the understanding of any issues. Overall, the report is not well-suited for central tendency analysis by its nature because it does not provide a coherent dataset for the procedure.