Can Privacy Be Built Into Data Research?

What are the best ways in which data privacy can be handled by data researchers today? And what level of privacy can an organization look forward to, when partnering with big data and business intelligence providers?

How can these standards be applied to data research and delivery?

A lot of experts have discovered that the solution is in a whole new approach to data security. It involves making it a part of the system, rather than it being an after-thought. This approach is referred to as Privacy by Design.

These principles come into account when creating new technologies and systems, and they incorporate privacy into technologies and processes, by default. Privacy by design is given an important place in planning, design, and operations. This policy first came into existence in the 1990s, but today, with the coming of GDPR rules, it has remerged into prominence. The originator of this framework is Dr. Ann Cavoukian, who was the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

1) Data providers need to integrate privacy right from the start so that breaches can be averted before they happen. Issues that could hurt a company’s reputation, should be predicted and prevented right at the start.

2) When dealing with personal contact data, it should be automatically protected by the data provider. The idea is that individuals need not have to work towards securing their personal data since privacy is already a default.

3) Data partners need to find creative ways to integrate privacy into the system. All this should be done without compromising on the functionality aspect or user-friendliness.

4) The entire data lifecycle should be taken into account, by making sure it is protected from the time it enters the system, retaining it safely, and finally destroying it after completion.

5) There should always be transparency and visibility into the system at all times so that all processes and technologies are operating according to the stated promises and objectives. Accountability by data providers, and compliance in the form of opt-ins at every level, creates a high level of trust.

This set of laws are enforceable in the EU, but should ideally be adhered to across the world if a company really believes in data privacy and protection. Privacy by Design should be a company’s responsibility while serving clients, globally.

By embedding these principles of privacy into the design and execution of data research, data partners can safeguard personal as well as business data and intelligence.