The impact of web scraping

Web scraping is a technique that comes to solve the problem of collecting data on the web. We all find some difficult for collecting data on the web, download it, or perform a copy and paste. It a technique for extracting data from a site via a program of automatic software or another site.

The advantage of web scraping is to be able to collect content on a web site, which cannot be copied and pasted without distorting the structure of the document. There are several sites and programs for web scraping. The idea is that we want to collect data and to be organized and categorized to meet a need for information. They can be used depending on the uses, it can be for benchmarking, market analysis, lead generating, or for personal use.

The practice of web scraping could be considered data theft. The fact of fraudulently introducing data into an automated processing system extracting, reproducing, transmitting, deleting, or fraudulently modifying the data, those contain is punishable by five years imprisonment and 150 000 Euros.

When this offense has been committed against an automated personal data processing system implemented by the state, the penalty is increased to seven years imprisonment and a fine of 300 000 euros. However, the fraudulent intention of web scraping should be characterized.

Too many specific software is used to extract only from the source code information of interest to humans. These programs of web scrapers or simply bots scan the source code of websites for patterns and extract the information from those places. The information obtained during weeb scraping is combined, analyzed, or saved for later use.

Web scraping can be used for a variety of purposes. Apart from indexing by search engines, it can be used to create contact databases, monitor and compare the prices of online offers and collate data from different online sources.

 

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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://blog.economie-numerique.net/2020/12/11/the-impact-of-web-scraping/

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