Privacy Post: April 19th

Good morning 👋

This is issue #1 of Privacy Post - the not-so-private privacy newsletter, where I share privacy news, knowledge, and technology happenings to keep you, professionals, amateurs, enthusiasts, and anyone looking to learn more, informed on the ever-changing privacy landscape.

🔥 Today’s post includes:

• My privacy origin story

• The basics - why privacy matters?

• Meme of the week

Pshhh… data shmata who cares?

I am writing this weekly newsletter because I think it’s important to create a place where anyone can learn about privacy. Too often privacy gets technical and complicated and I plan to discuss it here in an easy and accessible way for all.

By the end of this post, I hope you are able to think about the first time you heard about data privacy and are able to have a deeper understanding and appreciation for why it’s fundamental for us to have it in this tech-driven world. 

But first, my origin story.

As embarrassing as this is, in my first 18 years of life, I was handing out my data with no regard for where it was going. Webkins needs my social security number, no problem, here you go. I still do this a little now. It’s hard not to when every website and service is asking for an email or phone number. So if you do it too, no shame.

The first time I was introduced to the complexities and complications of data privacy it was the summer before my senior year of undergrad. I watched “The Great Hack” on Netlifx (thanks to their wonderful recommendation system. And no, the irony here does not elude me) and wow-wee did it put me through a semi-existential crisis as I realized I could, and probably have been, manipulated and exploited online.

I became frustrated by the fact that I knew very little about my data, who had it, and how to protect it.

I wasn’t formally introduced to the concept of data privacy until I took a class called “The Fundamentals of Cybersecurity”, a mandatory course I needed to complete my computer science degree.

After that, I developed the belief data privacy shouldn’t be a topic learned in a stand-alone college class or a Netlifx documentary or limited to folks in technical jobs. This is a topic for everyone, which brings us to why we should care.

✍️ Four reasons why it matters.

1️⃣ We all have data

Nobody is immune to the effects of the internet or the inevitable data breaches, hacking, and social engineering. Well, unless you are completely off the grid without a computer, and living on a remote island like Wilson the Volleyball. But if you’re reading this I can probably assume you’re not. And with that, this brings us to reason #2.

2️⃣ We deserve autonomy

Companies are using tactics to manipulate our thinking, behaviors, and choices. For example, have you ever bought something online that you didn’t think you wanted before you saw it? Chances are the ad was designed that way through targeted behavioral advertising, which is raising questions about whether it’s ethical or not. That’s why reason #3 is so important.

3️⃣ Data privacy sets a standard for what is protected

Meaningful and ethically designed privacy protects us, our intimate human characteristics, health data, financial data, and physical safety (location data) to name a few. Today’s standards are set through laws and regulations.

Currently, 71% of countries (137 out of 194 countries) have data protection and privacy legislation in place. We have a long way to go to protect the rest of the 29%, as well as improve upon already applicable privacy laws, which brings us to, without further ado, reason #4.

4️⃣ If we aren’t paying attention, we can be taken advantage of

Our digital world is filled with greedy corporations and social media conglomerates fighting for our attention, time, and information. Laws and regulations help keep corporations and big businesses from misusing our data. Out of the MANY examples here are a few that made headlines:

• The Meta/Facebook scandal involving Cambridge Analytica was the catalyst for bringing conversations about the concept of data privacy into homes worldwide

• Sephora allegedly selling 500,000 customers’ data without consent

• T-Mobile breach exposing the personal data of 37 million customers

To wrap up the first of many Privacy Post issues, I appreciate you taking the time to read this, and if you haven’t already, sign-up here to receive the newsletter directly to your inbox every Wednesday!

Meme Post

🤣🤣

See you next week. If you want more, be sure to follow me on LinkedIn (@annapeterson).

😄 This newsletter is a place for all to learn about data privacy, question the technology we use, and understand how it fits into the world we live in.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and ideas of Privacy Post are my own and not of my employer.