Privacy laws in the age of big data: balancing national security and individual rights

Abstract

Data has become the raw material of production, a new source of immense economic and social value. In the new age of digitisation, where data is a heavy determinant of the functionality of the government and private entities that use individual data to determine evolving societal trends, hence the concept of big data due to the mass accumulation and use of data to meet the needs and demands of society. On the other hand, this significant data emergence has posed a potential risk threat to national security and individuals, creating the need to draw measures to protect national security. Still, the steps adopted to address this challenge have also encroached on individual rights, which are equally intruded on by the data developments that have created a stringent relationship with privacy rights as a personal right. Therefore, this study aims to achieve a better balance between upholding national security and individual rights in the face of significant data evolution.