In 2022, data privacy became a hot topic as consumers became more aware of how their data was being tracked and used by companies. This was partly due to the efforts of companies like Apple to educate consumers about their privacy rights. In response, some companies faced legal consequences for their data privacy practices, such as TikTok's $92 million settlement in a class action lawsuit and Amazon's $886.6 million fine from the European Union for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) violations.
Data privacy is expected to shift back to a focus on regulatory compliance in 2023. With federal lawmakers failing to pass a privacy law in 2022, companies are now subject to a patchwork of state-level laws governing data collection, storage, and sharing. Virginia and California have already implemented their own privacy laws, and Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah are expected to follow suit later in the year.
There are several trends to watch for in the data privacy space in 2023. These include efforts to strengthen federal data privacy laws, the implementation of stronger penalties for data privacy breaches, increased transparency from companies about their data collection and use practices, increased funding for data privacy research and development, and enhanced consumer education about data privacy.
Overall, companies need to respect the privacy of their customers, staff, and other stakeholders to build trust and maintain a good reputation. According to the Pew Research Center, consumers are increasingly concerned about how their data is being used, and companies that are open and transparent about their data practices and respect privacy are more likely to be perceived positively.
Here are a few steps toward building a culture of respecting data at your organization:
Conduct an Assessment - Assess your data collection practices. Understand which privacy laws apply to your business, and remember you will have to think about local, national, and global regulations.
Compass IT Compliance can help you take a risk-based approach to data privacy and privacy risk assessments by utilizing the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Privacy Framework. A privacy framework can help you manage risk and create a culture of privacy in your organization. It is a way to build privacy into your organization’s foundation.
The NIST Privacy Framework supports data privacy in organizations by:
Privacy Awareness Education - Your employees are the frontline toward protecting all the data your organization collects. Create a culture of data privacy in your organization by educating your employees about both their individual obligations as well as your organization’s obligations to protect personal information:
This year’s Data Privacy Week gives organizations an opportunity to reevaluate their data privacy controls and plans, and to make improvements prior to a data disaster. But you do not have to tackle these challenges alone! Compass IT Compliance serves as a trusted data privacy consultant for companies across the nation, helping to assess what data they possess, where it resides, and what controls are in place to protect that data and meet compliance with a myriad of industry and government regulations. Contact us today to discuss your unique data environment!