In technology, particularly regarding data-based innovation, privacy is paramount importance. Organisations developing AI and ML technology solutions and harnessing data science should adopt privacy-first outlooks first and foremost.
"Respecting and providing data security to users is the most critical step forward in AI, ML and Data Science eras. These technologies predict different scenario outcomes using data. But data must be protected. Earning user trust through finest data privacy and security allows us moving forward, researching and innovating this era."
Below are four factors helping organisations ingrain privacy-first approaches:
1. Start with Certification: ISO27001
Your organisation must meet industry security standards. ISO27001 is information security management international standard. It's the most popular information security standard existing and universally recognised. ISO certification is something potential clients look for. Lacking certification rings alarm bells. Achieving ISO27001 certification establishes organisational credibility and recognises you as responsible data handler.
Information security is vital; data breaches are commonplace across all sectors. "For example, April 2019 Georgia Tech announced nearly 1.3 million current/former faculty, students, staff and applicants were affected by education data breach via unauthorized web application access. Compromised information included names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers."
Furthermore, data breaches carry reputation and heavy financial consequences.
Georgia Tech 2019 breach implications: "Financial implications likely significant—not only lawsuits and data privacy regulation non-compliance fees, but also severe reputation damage. Students were outraged after similar July 2018 breach when university mistakenly shared 8,000 student personal information. This latest breach adds fuel to fire."
It's organisational interest protecting customer data commercially and reputationally.
2. Address Consumer Concerns: Consider Data Collection, Use and Storage
How does your technology store customer data? Have you considered data storage or transit and rest encryption? Have you clarified this to customers? Being open and transparent about data collection, use and storage is key, as this is consumer concern.
"From massive data breaches to private data sales, consumers are extremely concerned keeping personal information private and secure. Nearly 80% in recent Pew Research study raised company data protection questions."
Additionally, it's vital organisations comply with data storage duration requirements, deleting data when needed. This is critical data security and management part, often organisational pitfall. Only store data as long as required; requirements must have business justifications attached.
3. Provide Privacy and Data Handling Protection Training
Does your organisation provide staff training regarding privacy and data handling? User awareness courses are great privacy protection keeping frontmost employee minds. Many courses offer simple modular breakdowns with bitesize training sessions and assessments easily integrating into busy working days.
Effective training ensures employees are aware of privacy protection ways and responsibly handling data, meaning organisations can together prevent data breaches and spot compromise attempts like phishing cyberhacker emails.
"Robust data security strategies protect organisational information assets against cybercriminals but also guard against insider threats and human error—leading data breach causes. Data security deploys tools and technologies enhancing critical data visibility and use. Ideally, tools apply protections like encryption, data masking and redaction, automating compliance reporting."
4. Keep Location Sharing in End-User Hands
It should be up end-users whether they'd like permitting precision location services accessing their location. Location services permission recognition emerged when Google promised ending third-party cookie use in 2023.
"Apple cracked down on user privacy with new operating system updates. Chief among them: AppTrackingTransparency (ATT), giving users choice allowing apps to track behaviour across other apps and open web. Recently with iOS 15 rollout, Apple debuted new features including built-in VPN access via Private Relay, privacy 'report cards' showing how apps use data and improved email privacy."
Takeaways
Track24 provides guidance adopting privacy-first organisational approaches. Privacy-first approaches result in good organisational practices and sophisticated technological development handling like AI, ML and data science correctly and ethically. Privacy-first approaches allow offering technology solutions to existing and potential customers with transparency, attributing organisational credibility and enabling outsiders trusting you with data handling. Discover how AtlasNXT, our single-solution safeguarding and communications platform, is built entirely on privacy-first principles: https://atlasnxt.com
