Hi,
Did not find time to write here lately, mainly because I moved to the United States, and specifically to Carnegie-Mellon University, for a post-doc fellowship. Its a fascinating place, full mega interesting people. On the right is a pic that I took of the place.
In the meantime, here are two links to issues that trouble me in the last few days. First, here is a article from the NY Times, that discuss the connection between data-mining and the latest financial crisis. Data-mining allowed banks, credit cards companies and other financial institutes to direct products at specific customer profiles. It gave these institutes the illusion of eliminating the risk in these products. This view had failed miserably. Another way in which the data gathered about us in information systems can lead to misfortune consequences is this story: An appeal of republicans in Ohio to compromise voter registration by verifying voter records with other databases, including driving license records. The appeal was rejected by the supreme court, overriding a previous decision by a federal appeal court. However, it has a disturbing underlying thought: That the right of citizen is tied to the condition of the information about them in government databases. The implication is frightening. If the information about you is lacking, it is your problem.
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