If one of the exact antonyms of data privacy has to be “data leak”. Then it can be witnessed how data leak has been posing threats, of late, to privacy. And lives of millions of people. With more than a dozen media outlets have published their findings from an investigation. Into the use of Pegasus – Israel’s billion-dollar spyware tool. It turned out that this tool was being used, rather abused, by several repressive governments around the world. To track gullible and unsuspecting people.
The Pegasus was meant for use by the intelligence. And law enforcement agencies for the purpose of national security were instead being used by the governments. To track journalists in at least 20 countries for illegitimate uses. One of the finest examples of this misuse was seen, when the family members of Jamal Khashoggi — a columnist for The Washington Post — were spied upon and tracked.
As revealed through the Pegasus Project, the primary purpose of Pegasus was also furtively defeated when it could breach the security of even the most technologically advanced Apple’s iPhone.
A case study by Global Freedom of Expression – an academic initiative – by the Columbia University at New York. Showcases the lead judgment by The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). In which it was held that the obligation on the part of electronic communication providers to forward the users’ data to any public authority interfered with the protection of data privacy. And is incompatible with the freedom of expression principle.
Further, an investigation into Amazon – the e-commerce giant – based on a complaint filed by “La Quadrature du Net” – a French privacy rights group. It led the giant to pay a heavy penalty of around $900 million. When it did not keep up with the EU’s data protection law. And engaged big time in the manipulation of customers’ data.
Now, wasn’t all that an abuse of the data privacy laws by unaccountable actors in any system?
With tech companies and public authorities misusing the personal data of customers. And citizens alike there is a widespread demand by public activists. Mass media and the governments in opposition all around the world to lay down stringent data privacy laws, going forward in the year 2022. Not to forget, in any case, the year 2021, when GDPR went into effect to tighten the data privacy norms. And which set an example for many organizations around the world.
Therefore, without wasting any more time on how data has already been breached. Let’s take a look at the top 8 data privacy trends. That you should follow to boost your business in the year 2022.
Data Privacy Trends to Look Out For, in The Year 2022!
Trend # 1: GDPR and Several Other Regulations in Place
With GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) being adopted in the EU. And enforced in 2018, individuals could control their rights over their personal data and have complete data privacy. This was the beginning of the new era of data protection law, yet the citizens and businesses were far from realizing its true benefits. The EU member governments then had to revisit this regulation in 2021. And tighten it further to achieve a new normal.
Because of the market inclusiveness and widespread flexibility. GDPR soon became a benchmark data privacy law for several other nations including Turkey, Japan, Chile, Mauritius, Brazil, South Korea, and South Africa.
Next, would it not be fancy to know that even UK retained this law despite no longer being an EU member state?
We also need to learn about CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). The first US privacy law — was adopted in 2018 and carries enough similarities with the GDPR. Needless to say, CCPA provided Californians with enough control over their data in the recent times of data leaks and loss of privacy.
Among the other nations as mentioned above, Brazil was one nation that enforced the LGPD (Lei Geral de Protecao de Dados Pessoais) – a data protection law – in 2020 to protect the personal data of around 140 million internet users in Latin America. LGPD is remarkable in the sense that it replaced its earlier laws that were fragmented and less comprehensive. This regulation was said to be much influenced by the GDPR.
With the above said, Asian countries too are emerging strongly in the area of data privacy laws by toeing the line of the EU. After all, who would like to pay a hefty fine by losing the trust of loyal and potential customers?
Trend # 2. Business Users Are Moving Towards Higher Level of Data Standards
Data Graveyard is a term quite commonly used for high quantities of data that are low in quality and therefore remain largely unused. Such data when stored on business servers becomes an unnecessary financial burden. According to GDPR, a fine is intended to be imposed on those not complying with effective data retention and yet many enterprises have failed to adhere to the GDPR.
Of late, the old practices are being discarded and companies are trying to store, manage and process their data repository in a better way.
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Trend # 3. Consumers Are Beginning to demand More Data Privacy
A lot of customers of products and services felt either a direct threat to their data privacy in 2021 and called for immediate resolution by asking the governments to bring upon suitable legislation. But, not all governments around the world are so pro-active or even reactive. Therefore, we are going to witness demand for more data privacy in the coming times and even when there is no legislation imposed by the state actors.
Now, as a business owner, the best way to tap into the pockets of such customers is to allow your customers to access or delete their personal data even in the absence of any suitable legislation. All in all, you should be able to honor the requests of your customers. This will help you increase your brand value, brand image, and brand loyalty for both your existing and potential customers.
Trend # 4. GDPR Sets the Trend for New Roles and Responsibilities within the Organization
If staying compliant with GDPR could help businesses seek new heights. Then how could it have happened that the professionals in non-GDPR complaint organizations not taken any lesson from this new regulation? There is certainly a shift in the compliance responsibilities within the organizations. Companies are beginning to understand a DPO (Data Protection Officer) cannot single-handedly achieve the purpose of data compliance. And therefore existing and new professionals from other departments need to come forward for handling the data subjects. New professionals are being inducted into other departments such as HR, marketing, or legal.
Besides the above, it’s being felt by many that a DPO should be vested with more authority to conduct an investigation into any data non-compliance within the organization. And be able to manage the budget more effectively, and report directly to the top management. All of this is for better use of data privacy initiatives. At the same time, organizations are realizing the fact that CDO (Chief Data Officer) and CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) should be joining this bandwagon to ensure complete cybersecurity and personal data privacy.
Trend # 5. Increase in the Number of Penalties
If data protection laws were not in place or in place and fully abided by, then why were GDPR fines imposed to the extent of around 275 million euros? Isn’t it? Taking note of this, the executive-level managers in various organizations around the world are becoming more responsible. As they are beginning to understand that it’s not just a penalty imposed on their enterprise. But a loss to their goodwill and reputation as well.
Trend # 6. Heavy Risk Management of Third-Parties
With GDPR, obligations also tend to increase on the part of the firm’s suppliers, vendors, and any subsidiary. This means the third parties will also need to abide by the new data privacy laws before an organization will enter into any kind of negotiation or deal. The legal and compliance teams allocate almost 73% effort to identifying and monitoring third-party risks.
Trend # 7. Lack of Talent is Resulting in the Need for More Skilled and Talented Employees
As of now, there is a shortage of cybersecurity and data privacy experts. Amidst so many data breaches, threats to data privacy with subsequent data privacy laws. More positions in the roles of chief data privacy officers will remain open. What can be better proof than the fact that hiring on Linkedin for these roles increased up to 80% in the period 2016-2019.
Henceforth, to catch up with the new challenge. Organizations will need to undertake in-house training for the existing set of employees or outsource professionals for such roles.
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Trend # 8. Stricter Time-Frame to be Initiated for Addressing Data privacy Requests
In the recent times of data leaks. And so many verbal or written requests for ensuring data privacy by the advocacy groups. Human rights activists, public authorities, or customers the organizations will now be judged more than ever. And, therefore, they will have to address any data privacy complaint way faster. As that is the basis on which public perception gets built.
Of late, we saw a huge rise in the amounts of complaints registered on social media platforms. And the growing frustration among the users on account of late responses. To that end, you could try having a centralized PrivacyOps platform that’s automated so as to handle users’ requests faster and more successfully.
In a Nutshell
It’s going to be more than just filing suits. And the imposition of heavy fines in the wake of personal data theft in the coming times. The organizations, whether solely private, public, or in any other form will have to maintain more transparency in their business activities. In order to win public trust. And, this is because the consumers are becoming more and more aware of their rights, use, or misuse of their personal data by others. That said, there’s much work that is left to be done by those organizations that are still in the infancy stage of coming up with a stricter data privacy law.
