This is just one example, but it emphasizes the need for large-scale pattern recognition in creating predictive diagnostic models. The human brain can develop the deep-learning algorithms necessary for this kind of innovation, but only the algorithms can effectively recognize patterns at such a large and impactful scale.

Some may claim that the potential damage from a health care company data breach is far more complex than the damage from other forms of data warfare — and they are correct. Victims cannot simply change their passwords or cancel their credit cards to resolve the risks of identity theft, fraud, risk profiling, targeted psychographics, increased insurance premiums and other dangerous (and expensive) consequences.

Regardless, digital health care data will continue to be collected every day, providing tremendous opportunities for medical research and treatment, as well as the inevitable potential for danger that exists in all walks of digital life. Why not go ahead and put this information in the hands of the right agents, and establish strict regulation and enforcement protocols in the process?

With the support and intervention of regulatory bodies, there would need to be an extensive de-identification process to irreversibly anonymize our personal data. These bodies would also need to prohibit the monetization of health care data and prevent it from being used for profiling or any other unethical or criminal purpose. A zero-tolerance policy for foul use of our data will probably yield better results than another cybercrime consultant or better computer servers.

The vast amount of information each of us possesses is far too important to be left under the control of just a few entities — private or public. We can think of our health care data as a contribution to the public good and equalize its availability to scientists and researchers across disciplines, like open source code. From there, imagine better predictive models that will in turn allow better and earlier diagnoses, and eventually better treatments.

Your health care data could help people who are, at least in some medical aspects, very similar to you. It might even save their lives. The right thing to do with your data is not to guard it, but to share it.

Oren Frank is the chief executive of Talkspace.

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