DataBase Issue: Privacy

2.How does Target use data matching on its customers? Describe the information it uses.

It achieves all the products that the customer had been purchasing and with all that data collected they have 5 or more in common according to a pregnancy prediction.

3. Applying data mining, the article states that 25 products where identified to “predict pregnancy”. List some of these products that the article mentions.

Target noticed that woman that are waiting for a baby buy things like cocoa butter,supplements with calcium, magnesium and zinc,sanitizers, and other types like this.

4. Can you think of any other reason for a person to buy these products? Would you be offended that a company assumes that you (or a person in your family) have a condition based on the products you buy?

Sometimes I do buy this products like the cocoa butter, and supplements  and sanitizers. This products are completely normal for personal use, and if a pregnant woman buy this it doesn't mean that every woman buying this it's pregnant. I would not get offended if a company start sending coupons, but it would be awkward.

5. How did Target’s strategy changed when it found out that people were bothered about this?

They still send coupons about pregnancy and baby stuff but mixed with other coupons about different things like wine promotions, just to don't freak out the client.

6. Write a paragraph about the benefits and disadvantages for Target.

Target had create a good strategy for customers because if they send coupons to a pregnant woman when she needs them, she will definitely go buy there. That's a point for Target but if the woman is not pregnant and everything was just coincidence, many she will get offended for the “non-privacy” that the company is offering her. Also this could be in some way creepy for a woman that a company knows about their stage, and she could demand them for privacy rights.

7. What conclusion can you draw from Target’s reaction to the reporter’s plan to write this story?

Target didn't want to write this story. They think that if the customer knows that he had been “followed” and “spy” they would not want to shop there anymore, that's why they didn't want to publish this story.

8. Discuss if it is acceptable or not, that social networks collect data about their users’ interests, to enable them to sell more accurate advertising systems. (3 paragraphs)

The social network is always collecting data about their users, but sometimes it's optional for us to put it or not. One example of this is Facebook, you are not forced to publish everything, it depends on you. I personally think that is acceptable, but they have the obligation to respect the customer, if they collect data to do things like sending coupons to a pregnant woman they have to be aware that is not obvious.

The most important thing that a company should do is to protect the customer, if they don't expose the client everything would be fine because they would not feel damaged. Also a company have to give the client everything they need, in this case if a woman is pregnant and she needs pregnant stuff, the coupons would be fine for her because that's what she needs.

In conclusion I will say that it's acceptable for me to collect data of their users because it's a way to know them better and in some way please the client. Both sides are wining, the company is selling more but respecting the integrity of the client and the client is getting what he wants.