Privacy Post: May 17th

Happy Wednesday 👋

This is issue #4 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:

• Knowledge topic 🧠 - The transparency trend

• In the news 🗞 - dangers of AI & protester surveillance

• Meme Post 🤣

A transparency phenomenon is growing… a key element of data privacy

Let’s first define what kind of transparency I’m talking about:

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionaries, "transparent" is defined as "free from pretense or deceit, easily detected or seen through: OBVIOUS, readily understood, characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices”

It implies openness, communication, and accountability.

As a data privacy consultant transparency is very important thanks to the standard and widespread practices set by the European Union’s (EU’s) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It’s all about providing information about the collection, sharing, and processing of user data in order to protect individual rights and grow consumer trust.

Right now transparency is the Red Robin jingle in my head. Stuck. Red Robin… yummmmm!

With transparency in my mind, I’ve noticed other areas of the world shifting this way, both to protect individuals and instill trust in consumers. Folks are demanding more transparent practices when it comes to emerging technology, salaries, and business practices. All of which have historically been quite opaque.

Emerging Technology

Blockchain’s entire purpose is built on transparency. With the recent surge of popularity of blockchain technology in things like cryptocurrency and NFTs, it means society chose to place value on them. A move toward blockchain means a move toward transparency.

Real-world examples of blockchain used for the purpose of its transparency capabilities:

• Supply chains

• Cybersecurity communities

• Climate transparency within the government

While we are here, one tech area that could benefit from transparency practices… AI.

There are just so many unknowns. What data is used to train a model? How is the algorithm coded? What are the underlying risks of using AI? Conversations are starting around transparency in AI, but it hasn’t yet taken off.

Salary Disclosure

In 2022…

• White women earned an average of 83% of what white men earned

• Black women earned 70% as much as white men

• Hispanic women earned only 65% as much

• Asian women were closer to white men, making 93% as much

The topic of gender and race pay gaps is coming to the forefront of mainstream culture and media. Discussing salaries with peers, coworkers, and family members used to be inappropriate, and now more people talk about it than ever before.

I see social media posts discussing salaries, bonuses, and how to negotiate with employers. I also see companies popping up to provide a space and community to discuss salaries and shed light on the disparity:

• Elpha - community for women with a growing salary database of 8,500+ folks

• Fishbowl - community for people in corporate jobs with forums to post salaries, bonuses, and benefits

There is also a trend in state salary disclosure laws. California joined a handful of places, including New York City, Colorado, Washington State, and Rhode Island, which require some form of salary transparency.

Transparency will be a piece of the puzzle to further expose the injustice and ensure equality and equity.

Businesses

Transparency, a current buzzword in the business world, encourages companies to be more open, honest, and ethical. It’s beneficial to workers, stakeholders, and executives alike.

Examples of talking about historically stigmatized topics help both employees & businesses:

• Business’s openness to discussing mental health at work. In 2020, it went from a nice-to-have perk to being imperative. While there is still a long way to go with this, businesses are moving in the right direction. In a 2021 report, nearly two-thirds of respondents talked about their mental health to someone at work in the past year. Company culture is changing to an environment where talking about mental health is okay.

• Supply chain transparency with Patagonia’s Our Footprint initiative tracing social and environmental impacts of their products and processes. They expose who makes the goods, where they come from, and how they are made. It strives to help consumers be better and more informed shoppers.

Transparency and sharing information are valuable in confronting injustice, sharing wealth, protecting our fundamental rights, and upholding accountability.

In the news…

Age requirement for social media - Striking a balance between protecting children and privacy rights.

The dangers of AI and how to move forward - An informative and eye-opening read for those interested in the rapid growth of AI and its risks. OpenAI’s CEO, an IBM executive, and an NYU professor have a hearing with the Senate about AI threats, the future of AI, and what is needed to address its harms.

Protest surveillance - I often get a little too caught up in the big tech whirlwind. There are many other important facets of data privacy and one includes protecting protesters.

Meme Post

For the Game of Thrones fans!

That’s all we have for today! Thanks for reading and 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.