Data Protection Dilemmas: Striking the Right Balance in a Connected World

The Oxford Dictionary defines privacy as ‘the state of being alone and not watched or disturbed by other people’. Privacy acts as a protective shield, granting us the freedom and authority to safeguard our personal information. At large, privacy is the authority to control what, when, and whom to disclose, and the purpose of the discloser. The owner of data might be concerned about the potential exposure of sensitive information to individuals or applications without authorization. It's important to recognize that even though a company has access to one’s data, however, it can still be barred from using so if desired by the individual.?

While Privacy regulations have been in place for many years like Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) had guidelines on privacy and personal data back in the 1980s, including Japan, Sweden, and the United States, which had their own privacy regulations for a considerable time. But post the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for citizens of the European Union (EU) in 2018, there is now a heightened sense of privacy awareness within organisations, with respect to customer data. This concept of privacy empowers individuals to be in command of their personal information, determining how it is used and who has access to it.

In our interconnected and communicative world, it is essential to strike a delicate balance between seemingly contradictory objectives. To be social yet autonomous, known yet unknown, independent yet dependent is essential to our communicative world. It is ironic that despite valuing privacy and desiring to protect our personal information, we often engage in activities like downloading apps, using devices, and agreeing to terms of service that allow extensive data collection. The main issue for the public-private dialectic is to understand how to achieve goals that allow both disclosure and the ability to keep private or secret those things that make us feel vulnerable.

This presents a challenge not only for individuals but also for businesses and non-profit organizations that seek to safeguard their own data. To address this challenge, it is crucial for industries to handle data responsibly and adopt strong privacy practices. This includes granting individuals access to their own data and ensuring that it is not utilized in harmful or unlawful ways. Privacy plays a vital role in establishing trust between consumers and businesses, but it requires more than just legislation.

To effectively address privacy concerns, a multidisciplinary approach is crucial. It involves professionals from diverse fields such as law, policy, computer science, and management. Privacy regulations are not solely the responsibility of lawyers and policymakers; digital infrastructures also play a significant role in safeguarding privacy.

Reimagining Regulation with Technology Platforms

The design of technologies used for data collection, discovery, and analysis can have a profound impact on privacy. Therefore, when we discuss "regulation," we should consider it in a broader sense that encompasses technology design. To protect the privacy of individuals whose data is being collected, a collaborative and multi-stakeholder approach is necessary, bringing together different perspectives and expertise beyond traditional legal and policy frameworks. This comprehensive approach will help ensure privacy is effectively upheld and respected in our increasingly digital world.

Today a large section of businesses is prone to data leakage due to vulnerabilities in their technology infrastructure which needs to be addressed. All efforts to ensure data privacy are a continuous process with active participation from businesses as well as consumers.

ScikIQ, a pioneering data platform, is aligned with data privacy to safeguard sensitive information across industries. ScikIQ enhances data governance and establishes robust security controls, mitigating the risk of breaches and ensuring regulatory compliance. Its role in facilitating timely assessments and promoting a culture of data privacy makes it an essential asset for organizations striving to protect their data in today's interconnected world.