The Data Diva E123 - Mark Smolik and Debbie Reynolds

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Dan Caprio, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Providence Group,  Vice Chair, Internet of Things Advisory Board, U.S. Department of Commerce. We discuss and navigate the intricacies of privacy in the digital age, particularly focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The discussion emphasizes the urgent need for a national strategy for IoT, comprehensive federal privacy laws in the United States, and the significance of the cyber trust mark initiative led by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to signify the security and privacy standards of IoT devices, enhancing consumer trust. A pivotal point of the conversation was the importance of implementing a universal opt-out mechanism for IoT devices, offering users more control over their personal data. The episode also explored the dual-edged sword of AI in privacy, highlighting the Biden administration's executive order on AI as a step towards recognizing privacy's critical role in AI governance. Dan Caprio urged privacy professionals to adopt a strategic and proactive stance towards AI governance, emphasizing the dynamic career opportunities in the field and the necessity for ongoing education and adaptation in the face of evolving privacy challenges. This episode offered a rich overview of the current privacy landscape, stressing strategic foresight and proactive governance of emerging technologies as key to navigating the complexities of the digital age while safeguarding consumer privacy and Dan’s hope for Data Privacy in the future.Many thanks to “The Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast “Privacy Champion” MineOS, for sponsoring this episode and supporting the podcast.With constantly evolving regulatory frameworks and AI systems set to introduce monumental complications, data governance has become an even more difficult challenge. That’s why you need MineOS. The platform helps you control and manage your enterprise data by providing a continuous Single Source of Data Truth. Get yours today with a free personalized demo of MineOS, the industry’s top no-code privacy & data ops solution.To find out more about MineOS visit their website at https://www.mineos.ai/Support the show

Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks to Jesse Tayler,  Team Builder, Startup Cofounder App Store Inventor, and Founder of TruAnon. We discuss Data Privacy, Digital Identity, and Jesse Tayler's background as a team builder, startup co-founder, app store inventor, and founder of TruAnon.  We discuss  the shift from physical to digital products, highlighting the friction-free nature of the digital world and its implications for the economy. Jesse shares stories about creating the app store software model and meeting with Steve Jobs. The conversation then shifts towards the intricacies of digital identity and data security, drawing attention to the challenges posed by the transition to a purely digital environment and its impact on privacy and security. Jesse Tayler emphasizes the need for a service that banks and social networks want to use to ensure online safety. He discusses the importance of individuals owning and controlling their identity while also providing value to the services they use. Debbie Reynolds expresses concerns about the sustainability of the current verification processes and advocated for a system where individuals have more control over sharing their data rather than having to provide their identity information to multiple accounts.Jesse Tayler passionately advocates for a purely digital solution to address the challenges of digital identity and privacy violations. He emphasizes the need for a future where digital identity is seamlessly integrated into everyday life, ensuring safety and trust for individuals and governance. Tayler expresses concerns about the lack of trust in the digital realm and the challenges of transmogrifying between the physical and digital worlds. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for a digital solution prioritizing trust, ownership, and transparency in identity verification, and Jesse shares his hope for Data Privacy in the future.Support the show

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 Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks to Carey Lening, Privacy Professional, Writer, Chronicles of the Constantly Curious (Dublin). We discuss her journey into privacy, highlighting the significance of the GDPR and the shift in attitude towards data protection. The conversation also delved into the limitations of applying a property rights model to personal data, with Carey highlighting the challenges and nuances involved in understanding and regulating the use of personal data. Additionally, the discussion touched on the broader implications of data ownership and the varying interpretations of privacy rights. We emphasize the need to recognize the complexities of data protection laws and the conflicting nature of individual rights in a global context. We advocate for a shift from absolutist beliefs towards a more grounded and pragmatic perspective, acknowledging the inherent difficulties and trade-offs in addressing privacy concerns. The discussion underscored the importance of moving beyond idealistic notions and embracing a more nuanced understanding of privacy rights in practice. We discuss the impact of privacy regulations, focusing on the aftermath of the ruling against Google Analytics in Europe. We emphasize the need for pragmatism in compliance decisions and expressed concerns about the broad application of regulations to all companies without considering nuanced differences. The conversation also delved into the complexities of cookie laws, data sharing without consent, and Carey’s Data Privacy hopes for the future.Many thanks to "The Data Diva" Talks Privacy Podcast Sponsor and Privacy Visionary, Smartbox AI, for sponsoring this episode and supporting our podcast. Smartbox.ai, named British AI Company of the Year, provides cutting-edge AI, helps privacy and technology experts uniquely master their Data Request challenges, and makes it easier to comply with Global data protection requirements, FOIA requests, and various US state privacy regulations. Their technology is a game-changer for anyone needing to sift through complex data, find data,  and redact sensitive information. With clients across North America and Europe and a major partnership with Xerox, Smartbox.ai is bringing their data expertise right to our doorstep, offering insights into navigating the complex world of global data laws For more information about Smartbox AI, visit their website at https://www.smartbox.ai. Enjoy the show. Support the show

Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks to Jay Averitt, Senior Privacy Product Manager/Privacy Engineer at Microsoft. We discuss Jay’s career trajectory into privacy engineering highlighting his early fascination with technology and law, leading to a career as a software engineer and later as a software engineer and licensed attorney. We emphasized the importance of integrating privacy considerations at the foundational level of design rather than as a reactive measure and highlighted the need for organizations to provide clear and concise privacy information to empower consumers. We also stressed the significance of building trust with users through transparent privacy practices and a user-centric approach to privacy. He emphasized the need to consider privacy fundamentals such as data minimization and transparency, particularly when storing customer data and addressing biases in AI models. He also expressed concerns about privacy and data collection in apps, emphasizing the need for better privacy considerations and consumer education. Debbie Reynolds and Jay Averitt concluded the meeting with mutual appreciation, emphasizing the evolving nature of privacy engineering, the value of diverse skills in this area, and the need to learn from past mistakes and prioritize transparency, especially in the context of LLMs handling potentially confidential information and his hope for Data Privacy in the future.Many thanks to “The Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast “Privacy Champion” MineOS, for sponsoring this episode and supporting the podcast.With constantly evolving regulatory frameworks and AI systems set to introduce monumental complications, data governance has become an even more difficult challenge. That’s why you need MineOS. The platform helps you control and manage your enterprise data by providing a continuous Single Source of Data Truth. Get yours today with a free personalized demo of MineOS, the industry’s top no-code privacy & data ops solution.To find out more about MineOS visit their website at https://www.mineos.ai/Support the show

 Debbie Reynolds, "The Data Diva" talks to Gopal Padinjaruveetil, Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer, AAA The Auto Club Group. Gopal discussed his thought leadership and career journey, his educational background in chemistry and law, his transition from operational technology to IT, and his eventual entry into cybersecurity. Debbie then transitioned the discussion to AI's influence on cybersecurity, seeking Gopal's insights. Gopal began to address AI's impact on cybersecurity, highlighting its significance in the evolving technological landscape. Gopal and Debbie engaged in a discussion about their perspectives on AI and its potential impact. Gopal expressed concerns about the potential for AI to enable harm and emphasized the need to consciously shape its impact, drawing parallels between the use of AI and the use of weapons. He highlighted the importance of managing AI to prevent negative consequences and stressed the need to address cyber safety, freedoms, and rights. Debbie contributed to the discussion by sharing an analogy that Gopal compares AI education to sex education, emphasizing the need to teach safe usage and shape behaviors for the benefit of society. Their conversation reflects a nuanced understanding of AI's complexities and the importance of addressing its potential impact. Gopal led a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving nature of privacy, particularly in the digital realm. He explored the paradox of willingly sharing data while expecting privacy, emphasizing the need to protect privacy in private spaces while acknowledging the lack of privacy in public spaces. Drawing on legal concepts, Gopal advocated for a balanced approach that protects privacy in private spaces while recognizing the role of governments in ensuring safety. The discussion prompted reflection on the trade-offs between privacy and security, ultimately highlighting the complexities of privacy in the modern age. Gopal and Debbie engaged in a heartfelt discussion about the significance of optimism and the challenges of upholding it in the face of adversity. They drew inspiration from historical figures like Martin Luther King and Gandhi, emphasizing the importance of pushing forward for positive changes and his hope for Data Privacy in the future. Support the show

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Melih Calikoglu, a Data Privacy Expert and Lawyer (Turkey). We discuss a range of topics related to Data Privacy and Artificial Intelligence, including challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses in complying with Data Privacy laws, the differences between Turkish and EU privacy laws, fines and penalties for non-compliance, and the need for alignment with the GDPR. He also delved into the complexities of AI and data ownership, highlighting the challenges of compensating human producers and determining who owns the intellectual property rights. We also discuss the profound impact of AI on society, including the democratization and marketization of AI, the ethical problems that arise from using AI to solve problems for consultees, and the changing nature of communication and socialization. We emphasize the need for careful consideration of the societal implications of AI as it becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives. We also highlight the importance of continued discussion and innovation to find effective solutions to the challenges posed by AI and Data Privacy and his wish for Data Privacy in the future.Support the show

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Joyce Hunter, Executive Director, ICIT (Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology). We discuss an overview of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), a non-profit think tank focused on Cybersecurity, National Security, and Critical Infrastructure with a people-focused mission. We discuss the importance of women and people of color in Cybersecurity and the need for a risk-based approach to Cybersecurity that involves various learning methods. Hunter shares her journey into the technology field and her work with women in the Cybersecurity industry. Hunter stresses the importance of understanding the differences and relationship between Cybersecurity and Data Privacy. They express their concerns about the vulnerability of healthcare and agriculture systems to cyber attacks and the potential harm that could be caused to individuals through the manipulation of medical devices and chemical compounds. We discuss the importance of Cybersecurity training for all employees, including executives who may have more access and be targeted by cybercriminals. Hunter shares a personal experience of a top-rated college being hacked after ignoring her advice on Cybersecurity. Finally, we discuss the critical role of technology in our lives and the need for greater awareness of its potential risks. We highlight the importance of standards and governance to regulate the use of technology and ensure ethical development, particularly in the field of AI. We also express their concerns about the potential consequences of our reliance on technology, such as supply chain interruptions and cyber attacks, and call for greater accountability and regulation to mitigate these risks and her wish for Data Privacy and Cybersecurity in the future.Support the show

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Nitin Singhal, VP of Engineering, SnapLogic. We discuss his extensive data journey, emphasizing the importance of responsible use of data and ensuring that it is not in the hands of the wrong bodies. We discuss the challenges and importance of data governance and Data Privacy in today's technology-driven world, including the need for a "healthy data lifestyle" and the importance of auditing data to uncover blind spots. Nitin also shares his insights on data governance and Data Privacy, highlighting the need for a realistic and data-driven model to ensure proper data classification and understanding. Debbie and Nitin also discuss companies' end-of-life data challenges due to Data Privacy regulations. Nitin explains that companies must consider legal retention, privacy contracts with customers, and customer requests for data deletion. He emphasizes the importance of having a single place and order of operations for retention and deletion strategy to ensure consistency and defensibility. We also discuss the importance of being aware of blind spots in data and taking steps to avoid them. Debbie and Nitin explore the complexities of defining good and bad data, highlighting the importance of trust, metadata quality, and understanding the risk presented by the data. We also discuss the importance of context in Data Privacy, emphasizing the need for technology to enforce the tight coupling of context and content to maintain privacy and security. Nitin suggests capturing the context of data at the lowest granularity to meet evolving obligations easily and cost-effectively and avoid having to recreate the wheel every time a new law comes out. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of responsible and ethical use of data in organizations and his wish for Data Privacy in the future.Support the show

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to  Sean Vargas-Barlow, Senior Global Privacy, Product, and AI Counsel. We discuss our passion for Data Privacy and the challenges of maintaining consumer trust and Data Privacy in the age of personalization and data sharing. We also discuss the importance of learning agility, self-learning, and networking with others in the field through organizations and projects. We emphasize the need to constantly hone one's skills and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. The discussion also touched on the future of privacy careers, with Sean and Debbie noting that the field has grown significantly in recent years and that privacy professionals are increasingly being called upon to lead on issues such as AI governance. We emphasize the importance of understanding technology and working collaboratively across different departments within an organization and note that privacy professionals may need to act as translators between technical and non-technical stakeholders. Finally, Debbie and Sean discuss the challenges of cross-border data transfer flows and the need for a global framework to ensure responsible data handling. We mention the APAC framework and the need for a global framework. We also discuss the need for responsible AI regulation with fundamental principles and the concern that the train has left the station. Overall, we highlight the importance of privacy and data governance in today's world, the need for professionals to stay informed and adaptable in the face of changing regulations and technological innovations, and her wish for Data Privacy in the future.Many thanks to “The Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast “Privacy Champion” MineOS, for sponsoring this episode and supporting the podcast.With constantly evolving regulatory frameworks and AI systems set to introduce monumental complications, data governance has become an even more difficult challenge. That’s why you need MineOS. The platform helps you control and manage your enterprise data by providing a continuous Single Source of Data Truth. Get yours today with a free personalized demo of MineOS, the industry’s top no-code privacy & data ops solution.To find out more about MineOS visit their website at https://www.mineos.ai/Support the show