Mining for data and personal privacy: reflections on an impasse

Data mining, also know as 'knowledge discovery in databases', is a technique that enables the user to find answers to questions he/she never thought of asking. It already has had applications in medical research, commerce and national security, amongst others. This is a challenge for both law and ethics, especially in the context of issues of privacy. To what extent are the current laws adequate to deal with the new technology? Do we need a new set of laws or principles? Although this article does not give direct answer to those questions, it tries to highlight the various problem areas and to suggest possible approaches towards a solution.