What does the USA election mean for data privacy?
Should tech giants be scrubbing servers so they can't be forced to hand over users' personal data? How much more will data breaches cost in two years time? Why are consumers accepting data breaches as the norm? How can GDPR revamp attitudes towards the use of personal data?
A carefully curated summary of the top data-related news from the week:
Privacy
What will a Trump presidency mean for the future of tech companies that collect and store personal data? Worthwhile read by Dave Lee discussing the likely implications for Silicon Valley. The future of encryption and privacy looks uncertain - especially considering Trump's previous stance that Apple should have created a backdoor into iPhones for the FBI. 📲
Will Trump force companies to hand over personal data to marginalise minorities? Should Google and Facebook be scrubbing servers in preparation? Or at least be mindful to not collect data they don't need? CONTROVERSIAL perspective - taking pre-emptive measures to protect user's personal data before it's too late.. 🤔
Edward Snowden gave an extensive interview and discussed the idea of enforcing privacy through technology, not legislation - don’t hate, innovate. He reiterates the idea that businesses should not collect data that they don't need and people should seek to use encrypted services (opposed to Facebook and Google..). 😎
Security
Tesco Bank announced a data breach - which resulted in £2.5 million being stolen from 9,000 people. VITAL TAKEAWAY - if this had happened in two years time under the new GDPR regulations, Tesco would have been fined an additional £1.9 million - on top of reimbursing customers, that is. 💰💰💰
Are consumers accepting data breaches as the new normal?(!): "consumers demand more privacy and protection but are unwilling to use privacy enhancing systems". Although data breaches are becoming more frequent year-on-year, many consumers still don't think they will be affected. How can consumers' mindsets about data breaches be changed BEFORE they get hit? 🤔
Refreshingly - GDPR seeks to introduce a cultural shift in how businesses manage personal data (including that of their employees) - the laws will apply to any business operating in Europe, regardless of Brexit. Businesses who do not comply risk facing fines of up to €20 million or 4% of worldwide turnover. Perhaps increased transparency and understanding over what data companies collect, use and store data will also help shift mindsets to caring about personal data being misused. ✅
Miscellaneous
Did the election results highlight the limitations of data by "undercutting the belief that analysing reams of data can accurately predict events"? 😐
Update Spotify now - for the past five months, a bug has been assaulting users' storage devices with enough data to potentially take years off their expected lifespans. 👀
Trading your customer data for a free burrito? Interesting idea - especially as Millennials tend to not mind sharing their data as long as they get something in return. 🌯🌯🌯
