[The digital looking glass: ethical aspects of large data collections]

The increase in the quality and quantity of health-related data stored and analyzed in different contexts is leading to new challenges to the protection of privacy. To demonstrate the major challenges, a description of the main categories of large data collections is given, followed by a short analysis of their current data security demands. The rising possibilities and risks that emerge from the increasing potential of big data methods of aggregation and the analysis of the huge amount of health-related data are discussed in light of the question: should new ways be found to further ensure the right to privacy?