Mark Barnes raises important concerns that many of us share around online privacy (Data miners intrude on privacy in the name of profit with unsolicited offers, September 5). While I share his disdain for the spam in my inbox, I want to assure him that not all forms of data mining form part of a sinister surveillance sales force. He may even find some types of data mining are useful in his current role. Opinion mining, for example, offers fascinating new insights that can be of great benefit to the public. Data mined from Twitter can help a local government improve the roll-out of specific healthcare services or better understand public concerns over safety or water shortages. My company, BrandsEye, works with local and international governments to help them better understand their service delivery and track their performance against goals. Online privacy is a growing concern for many, so reading that online conversations are "mined" will understandably not sit well with many reader...
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