Big data often benefits big business.
Why should we give a shit about their needs, much less spend any time 'balancing' them with ours?
EU countries must not be too restrictive in how they apply EU data protection laws or risk damaging the development of big data projects, German chancellor Angela Merkel has said. Germany has traditionally been cautious over data collection, but if countries are too restrictive then "big data management will not be possible", …
"In Germany we have the principle of 'data minimisation', but we may have to give a little on that. Such a principle doesn't seem as appropriate when you are looking at big data,"
Wrong way round. Big data doesn't seem so appropriate when you are looking at the principle of data minimisation. It's big data that needs to give.
1) You can have and process my personal data if I give it to you.
2) You can share my data if I consent to.
3) If you share my data without my consent you shall rot in hell, i.e. die the slow death of litigation.
This is what I call a balanced approach. And I can't see how this is limiting opportunities.