S Safety, Data M. Murat Civaner Department of Medical Ethics, Uludag University School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey Abstract This entry discusses the importance of data safety, and the problems relating to (a) failure to maintain data safety and (b) abuse of data by state and commercial entities are discussed. The issues related to healthcare provision context are elabo- rated as well. Finally, some suggestions are made in order to improve the current practices and regulations on data safety. Keywords Data; Privacy; Confidentialty; Healthcare Introduction Gathering information and keeping records were always crucial for mankind in the endeavor to understand the people and the environment sur- rounding them. It has always been one of the most critical components of the struggle for survival. As our memory is limited and our vision is nar- row at a given moment, we need data to comprehend the big picture and to make predic- tions and future plans accordingly. Along with the development of digitalization and Internet, now it is possible to gather data faster, wider, and larger more than ever. The possibility of coding all kinds of information as “1” and “0” enables us storing huge amount of data and trans- ferring it swiftly. Personal information might be in various forms and used for different purposes. It is not limited to name, age, or gender. It includes all information that identifies a certain person such as ethnic ori- gin, faith, political affiliation, sexual orientation, social security number, fingerprints, e-mail address, IP numbers, hobbies, and relatives. It also covers personal health records, predictive analytics, data of health-related sensors, and gene sequencing technology (Liu et al. 2014). In the context of healthcare, recording personal informa- tion is a must to provide services adequately. Organizing a healthcare system, which allows healthcare workers to communicate more quickly and accurately, is only possible where the appro- priate means are available. We use videotapes, audiotapes, photographs, DVDs, or hard disks to store personal and medical information, in addi- tion to traditional instruments. Data are needed not just for diagnostic and therapeutic services but also implementing and monitoring public health programs for prevention and promotion, improv- ing services and patient safety, biobanks, partici- pating community in decision-making and audit mechanisms, and conducting researches to # Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015 H. Ten Have (ed.), Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_445-1