Understanding the Data Environment

It has become increasingly difficult to talk about data in any meaningful way without reference to its context which we shall call the data environment. However, there is very little written on this topic within the data confidentiality and privacy field beyond the notion that a data’s context is made up of many other data and its infrastructure (for example see Elliot et al 2011; Add REFS). Whilst this undoubtedly is the case that data and its infrastructure are components of the data environment they are not the only components, the others being the wider social structures that shape it and agency. It is crucial that we take account of all component features of the data environment most especially if we are to: set out what it is and further consider its impact on issues such as privacy and confidentiality.