The following text is taken from a press release and in no way reflects the opinion of the editors.
If one is in any way connected to the cybersecurity and/or privacy industry, one will have heard similar claims. If we try to explain how companies have collected data used for advertising, it doesn’t work because people need to understand that they probably voluntarily, but without knowing, authorized the collection and use of their data
The process is often invisible. Data is collected covertly from the actions we take and snippets of information we disclose openly. Companies then use technology to make “smart” inferences about our preferences.
Use a GPS app to find a restaurant that specializes in a particular cuisine, and the search engine can check whether you eat at the restaurant, what day of the week, how often, how far you’re willing to travel, food preferences, location, etc. . time of day you eat, etc. Here the data was only the name of the restaurant, but what can be deduced from it can be very important.
Understanding how data is collected and the conclusions that can be drawn from it is complicated. It’s probably a very interesting subject when someone explains it but probably too complex to try and avoid collecting. It’s also likely that those in the know are providing more information than they think.
Educating consumers on the value and importance of their personal data is why, in January 2008, the United States and Canada established Data Privacy Day. It is an extension of Data Protection Day created by European countries in 2006. January 28 commemorates the signing, in 1981, of Convention 108, an international treaty on privacy and data protection.
In the US this has turned into a week, offering more events and a higher chance of attendance. Since 2008 the world of data and privacy has changed significantly. The value of data is recognized by businesses and governments, resulting in significant collection of personal data. This has necessitated legislation, such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in the EU and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which provide some protection to those who wish to control the use of their personal information.
Activities like Data Privacy Week are important because they spark conversations between individuals, businesses and governments. But is the evaluation of data and its confidentiality more important than leaving it to chance that the topic can be discussed at an annual event?
For Tony Anscombe the answer is: “Yes, the concept of personal data, the value it has, the risk of it being abused or simply used, should be the subject of basic education for everyone before using our first “intelligent” device. This it should include an understanding of the rights that privacy legislation grants to the individual, the right to delete, modify, request this data, etc.
Without understanding the importance of the personal information collected and the value it has or the rights of the individual to manage their data, we can go about our daily lives blaming the streetlights for the advertisements we will see next week. .
FURTHER READING:
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Is your personal data all over the internet? 7 steps to clean up your online presence
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