Larry Page Proposes Data Mining to Save 100,000 Lives Annually, Sparking Privacy Concerns
Google co-founder Larry Page has proposed using data-mining techniques on healthcare data to potentially save 100,000 lives annually. However, the suggestion has sparked concerns about user data privacy.
Page's idea follows successful collaborations in using cell tower data to detect epidemics faster. During the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, organizations like Flowminder Foundation, the Liberian Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO) worked together to achieve this.
Public health officials have long used sensitive geo-location data to combat HIV/AIDS and enhance local services. Better use of such data presents opportunities to improve healthcare efficiency and effectiveness. For instance, Carolinas HealthCare System uses consumer spending data to identify high-risk patients and improve care management. Facebook is exploring the creation of online support groups for users with medical conditions, similar to PatientsLikeMe.
However, maintaining the privacy of sensitive datasets is crucial. It helps prevent violence, criminal charges, or stigmatization. The Centers for Disease Control and Surveillance uses cell tower data to detect Ebola outbreaks faster, but privacy concerns remain a significant challenge.
Poor medication adherence contributes to 125,000 American deaths and adds $100 billion in healthcare costs annually. Integrating sensitive patient data, as seen at Carolinas HealthCare, can reduce hospitalizations by six percent in less than a year. Despite the potential benefits, the use of sensitive healthcare data must be balanced with robust privacy protections to ensure public trust.
