As the big data market is projected to hit a staggering $103 billion by 2027, the demand for publicly available web data is set to soar, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). But lawsuits against AI and web intelligence companies are throwing up 'profound' ethical and privacy challenges.

Amid this backdrop, Oxylabs, a leading web intelligence collection platform, anticipates significant changes in the data scraping industry in 2024, with new legal cases potentially reshaping the landscape.

Julius Černiauskas, CEO of Oxylabs, suggests that the burgeoning growth in generative AI capabilities has thrust ethical data collection back into the spotlight. He predicts that more industry players will join the Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative, a move that could signal a shift towards more responsible data practices.

"The growth in generative AI capabilities has brought ethical data collection back into focus," says Černiauskas. "We anticipate more industry players will join the Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative."

Denas Grybauskas, Head of Legal at Oxylabs, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that ongoing lawsuits against AI companies and a web intelligence provider could have a profound impact on data collection practices and technological developments. Grybauskas identifies two main categories of industry questions that need addressing: intellectual property rights and AI-related legal questions, and privacy and personal data.

"Ongoing lawsuits against AI companies and a web intelligence provider could impact data collection practices and technological developments," warns Grybauskas.

Meanwhile, Tomas Montvilas, Oxylabs’ Chief Commercial Officer, predicts a growing demand for custom scraping solutions and datasets in 2024, reflecting the increasing need for tailored data solutions in a rapidly evolving market.

Established in 2015, Oxylabs has quickly risen to prominence as a web intelligence acquisition solution and premium proxy provider. The company was named Europe's fastest-growing web intelligence acquisition company in the Financial Times’ FT 1000 list in 2022 and 2023, a testament to its continued success in a competitive industry.

As the big data market continues to expand, the focus on ethical data collection and the potential legal shifts in the data scraping industry underscore the importance of responsible and lawful practices. The predictions from Oxylabs highlight the need for industry players to adapt and evolve in response to these emerging trends and challenges.