2023 Data Privacy Trends You Need to Know About
Some people say the era of privacy as we know it is over. With so much of our information in digital form these days, it’s not uncommon to buy a new toothpaste at the store and then start seeing ads for it on your social media feed that same day.
Data privacy is becoming a major concern of government organizations and industries at the same time it’s becoming more complex. Most people have no idea how much of their data is being used by advertisers or of the intricate profiles that can be built based on data collected from multiple online and offline sources.
The wearing away of privacy is due in large part to tech companies taking advantage of living in the “Wild West” days of the internet. But privacy regulators are attempting to reign in the current wanton use of personal data.
It’s estimated that by 2024, 75% of the global population will have its personal data covered by modern privacy regulations. It’s important for companies to keep up with these data privacy trends as many will impact how they collect and manage data.
Modern business solutions will require a consideration of data privacy and compliance with applicable laws. Following are several trends that are predicted by business consulting and research firm, Gartner.
Data Will Be More Localized
One way to reduce the risk of data being mishandled or leaked is to ensure it is stored in a country with strong data privacy protections. Many government organizations already require the cloud platforms they use to store data in their own country.
Data localization will play a larger role in cloud solution acquisition. If you’re a business that services global clients, this can mean you need to develop a cloud strategy that takes local considerations in mind. For example, hosting a service on servers in specific countries only.
AI Governance
Artificial intelligence is being infused daily into the tools we use. From predictive typing in Microsoft Word to automated threat protection in next-gen firewalls, AI is used extensively to improve efficiency.
But it also presents a new challenge for data privacy. Gartner’s study found that 40% of organizations have had an AI-based privacy breach, and just 25% of those were malicious. This draws attention to the need to better govern AI algorithms to ensure data privacy is being considered.
Focus on Hybrid as the New Norm
The pandemic ushered in a new hybrid office paradigm. It’s now just as common for employees to be working from home as it is from the office in many organizations.
Hybrid work is coming under more scrutiny. How data travels between office and home and how to protect data when it’s in a non-office environment are all topics being explored when it comes to privacy governance.
Remote cybersecurity and how devices are managed play big roles in ensuring data is protected no matter where it may be accessed or stored. Endpoint device management and managed IT services to secure devices are both ways to reduce the risk of data leakage or unauthorized exposure.
More Privacy Regulation
The popular social media craze app Tik Tok recently settled a class-action privacy lawsuit. The company paid $92 million due to its misuse of biometric data and user information. It also improperly shared information with third parties.
This is just one of the many news stories that are becoming all too common. Major tech companies continue to get caught misusing data and violating users’ privacy.
You can expect more privacy regulation to address not only social media firms but also other organizations of all types. These regulations will come at the federal, state, and local levels as well as through various industries, such as healthcare.
The Rise of Privacy UX
Consumers are beginning to pay attention to how their data is used and are demanding more privacy controls and transparency. Websites like Facebook have added more transparency into their systems due to pressure from regulators and users. For example, on its mobile apps, users can turn off an “Off-Facebook Activity” setting to stop Facebook from collecting browsing activity.
Privacy UX simply translates to privacy user experience. This means that in the future, you can expect sites to offer more self-service privacy portals to make it easier for users to control their data and how it’s collected.
The current state of many apps is that users need to hunt to find various privacy controls that may be spread out under several different navigation options. This is moving to a more user-friendly privacy UX that better serves those whose data is being collected.
How Are Your Data Privacy Controls? Need Help?
Make sure you stay in compliance with existing and new data privacy regulations. Unbound Digital can help your Johnson City, Tennessee with a wide range of solutions.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Call 423-467-7777 or reach us online.