Andmeettevõtjad

Andmeettevõtjad, often translated as data brokers or data merchants, are companies that collect and sell personal information about individuals. These entities operate by gathering data from various sources, including public records, online activity, social media, loyalty programs, and third-party data aggregators. The collected data can encompass a wide range of details, such as purchasing habits, demographics, online behavior, financial status, and even more sensitive information.

The business model of an andmeettevõtja relies on aggregating and analyzing this vast amount of data to create detailed profiles of individuals. These profiles are then offered to other businesses for a variety of purposes. Common clients include marketers seeking to target specific consumer groups with advertisements, financial institutions assessing creditworthiness, insurance companies determining risk, and even government agencies for background checks or law enforcement purposes.

The operations of andmeettevõtjad raise significant privacy concerns. Individuals are often unaware of the extent of data being collected about them, how it is being used, or who it is being shared with. Regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and similar laws in other jurisdictions aim to provide individuals with more control over their personal data, including rights to access, correction, and deletion. However, the complex and often opaque nature of the data broking industry makes full transparency and individual control challenging to achieve. The debate surrounding andmeettevõtjad centers on balancing the commercial interests of businesses with the fundamental right to privacy.