好萊塢電影中經(jīng)常會出現(xiàn)這樣的鏡頭：FBI或者CIA通過調(diào)用各渠道數(shù)據(jù)信息后便能將犯罪嫌疑人的行動軌跡摸清楚，然后悄無聲息地出現(xiàn)，將其拿下。現(xiàn)在，這樣的情形已經(jīng)是現(xiàn)實了。隨著數(shù)碼電子技術(shù)的普及，人們的日常生活活動都會留下相應(yīng)的數(shù)據(jù)使用痕跡，英文叫做data shadow（數(shù)據(jù)影子）。

A data shadow refers to the sum of all the small traces of information that an individual leaves behind through everyday activities. A data shadow is a minute pieces of data created when someone emails, updates social media profiles, swipes a credit card, uses an ATM, and so on. The concept of a data shadow has become a serious concern because it is difficult to control who is looking at a person’s data shadow, what conclusions they are drawing and what actions they are taking based on those conclusions.

Data shadow指一個人的日常活動留下的各種信息痕跡，即“數(shù)據(jù)影子”。發(fā)送電郵、更新社交網(wǎng)站狀態(tài)、刷信用卡、使用自動取款機等等行為產(chǎn)生的點滴數(shù)據(jù)構(gòu)成一個人的數(shù)據(jù)影子。這個概念開始引起關(guān)注是因為，誰在查看個人的數(shù)據(jù)影子、他們會從中得出什么結(jié)論、以及他們會在此結(jié)論的基礎(chǔ)上采取何種行動，這些都是無法控制的。

This can happen when an employer, for example, fires an employee based on his or her Facebook friends or photos. Data privacy laws exist and more are being created to prevent abuse of a person’s data shadow. Unfortunately, privacy legislation generally lags behind companies' ability to collect, compile and analyze data.

比如：某個老板可能以某個員工在Facebook上的朋友或照片為由將其開除。我們已有一些數(shù)據(jù)隱私法律，并且為了防止個人數(shù)據(jù)影子被濫用，還有更多法律正在制定當(dāng)中。不幸的是，有關(guān)隱私保護的立法總是趕不上某些公司收集、整編和分析數(shù)據(jù)的步伐。

相關(guān)閱讀

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數(shù)字鴻溝 digital gap

數(shù)字游民 digital nomad

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen）

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