Whatsapp & Facebook Deserve Thank You for Privacy Notifications

The growing digitization and globalization of anything and everything are offering opportunities to everyone. I am not surprised with exponential growth of #Facebook and #Whatsapp and will never blame them for their dominating attitude and approach to define rules as per their business model. Facebook paid dearly to acquire Whatsapp and waited years before even thinking of monetizing their digital assets and there is nothing wrong about it.

The notifications by Whatsapp followed by users' reactions to their Privacy is nothing but laughable things given their own behavioral pattern. The notifications turned everyone into an analyst, policymakers, subject experts, vigilant citizen without knowing an abstract of the same. I believe that Humans tend to follow and best in copying others and that is what happened.

My topic of article is related to my past research on user awareness about Data Protection, #Privacy, Data Security, Digital Marketing and Advertisement.

Some of the interesting facts:

1.      Millions of #Articles, #Videos, #Graphics started circulating highlighting impact on the same

2.      Millions of new Hashtags on Social and Professional Media

3.      TV Channels Started running #TV Shows, #debate

4.      Competing Products being analyzed, recommended

5.      It became the topic of evening Tea or Lunch Table discussion

Isn't it???

On Global level, more than 100 countries are having their own Data Protection Laws and they are trying hard to get it implemented. When it comes to India, Our regulatory bodies, concerned ministry and parliamentary standing committees are working on it actively for the last 18 months.

The current status of bills getting converted into law is stuck as major companies irrespective of geographies are trying to get the law drafted which suits their business. Let's be honest and realistic and there is nothing wrong about it.

India traditionally follows European Law with minor changes and will be doing the same again in case for Data Protection and Privacy. Even in the initial draft, barring one or two major clauses, most of the bill is a photocopy of European Union Driven General Data Protection.

It brought us to common queries to yourself:

1. How many of us were aware of terms Data protection and privacy?
2. How many of us were aware that applications to any digital product or services capture your information?
3. How many of you are aware that many device manufacturer are doing it ?
4. How many of you are aware that all your activities are tracked or can be tracked through one click ?

But most important one,

1. What are your right under Data Protection and Privacy Law irrespective of your geographies?
2. What you are entitled for in case of data breach?
3. where you should approach in case you want to escalate?
4. Can you list down 5 rights of yours without Googling it ?
5. how many of you actually read privacy act before using any digital services or products

It's good that Whatsapp took an initiative to inform you and during that process an awareness campaign started which was ignored by all of us. In fact it saved billions of Dollars to government exchequer.

I know many reader will not agree to my points but trust me i am writing this short article after monitoring the ecosystem for good 3 years. The article content is my personal opinion based on my research

#Dataprotection #DataPrivacy #Privacylaw #Mobileapps #socialmedia #facebook #whatsapp @Facebook @Whatsapp #Meity #peskycalls #unwarrantedcalls #GDPR #Security #digitaladvertisement #CXOgroup #management #Technologyexperts