Essential privacy insights from Q2 21

Surveillance

In this Tech Quarterly

The need to protect the privacy of personal data is getting increased scrutiny, with new regulations taking effect in Germany and under consideration in the US.

06/07/2021

 

Essential privacy insights from Q2 21

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Fanny Abramczuk
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Fan is a writer/editor across most subjects in legal, finance and HR, as well as an experienced project manager.

Essential privacy insights from Q2 21

06/07/2021 |

 

1. German law to regulate data protection and privacy

The German parliament has passed a new law to regulate data protection and privacy in telecommunications and telemedia. Previous data protection laws in these overlapping sectors were numerous and confusing. With this new legislation, Germany is attempting to unify the country’s data protection rules and align them with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.

2. Privacy expert explains why he’s receiving Twitter ads for his mom’s toothpaste

Robert G. Reeve uses a personal example of receiving ads for a product he’s never used, bought or searched for as a way to explain the underhanded and, to many, unknown way that advertisers and other businesses track people’s behaviour on- and offline. Hint: it’s not because your social media apps are ‘listening’ to you.

3. IDC: Data privacy software sales soar in 2020

The data privacy management software market grew by 46 percent in 2020, according to analyst IDC. By 2025, the analyst predicts revenue in this market will almost double to $2.3 billion, with annual growth of 14.3 per cent. The rise in the number of global privacy regulations and ever-growing amounts of corporate data are contributing to businesses’ increasing need to seek tech help for compliance and information management.

4. 1.4 billion people will use facial recognition for payment authentication by 2025

The number of people using facial recognition software to secure payments is set to reach 1.4 billion by 2025, according to Juniper Research. That’s an increase of 120 per cent since 2020 – even with the difficulties created by ongoing use of face masks to protect against COVID-19. The rollout of Apple’s facial recognition tech, FaceID, has been a key factor in the growth, says Juniper.

5. New US bill to protect consumer data privacy

A new bipartisan bill introduced by US senators in May allows users to opt out of data tracking and receive clear communication about how organisations use their data, including being notified of a data breach within 72 hours. The bill is seen as an attempt to create a national privacy law similar to that of the EU’s GDPR.

6. Majority of Americans think businesses don’t prioritise their privacy

More than half (58) per cent of North Americans believe many companies don’t have their best interests in mind when it comes to their personal data, an ATB Ventures survey found. And over 41 per cent feel they don’t understand what data privacy means. More than 70 per cent of respondents said they want more regulation around how companies use and protect their personal data.

7. Data compliance a top priority for cybersecurity leaders

Ninety-four per cent of security leaders consider data privacy compliance a top priority for their organisations, according to new research by Corinium. With 49 per cent of respondents already automating enforcement to ensure they are complying with data privacy laws, businesses say they are motivated by the desire to build trust with customers and partners.

8. Apple’s latest privacy protection features launched

Apple has previewed its latest privacy features for iOS 15 and its devices. The App Privacy Report is receiving attention for its ability to show users which apps are accessing their location, contacts and photos – and how often they’re doing so. This has implications for targeted ads, as users might restrict app access once they understand how much of their data is leaving their device.

9. No cookies in Chrome mean big changes for marketers

In response to rising concerns over data privacy, Google plans to drop cookie support from its Chrome browser, ushering in a new era of consent-based advertising. Analyst Gartner predicts a major shift for marketers, who will no longer be able to rely on Google for third-party data to drive their campaigns. To adjust, marketers will need to rethink their methods and strategies.

10. EU’s ‘data adequacy’ decisions to allow free flow of personal data to the UK

The EU and the UK have come to an agreement on the movement of personal data post-Brexit, with the EU recognising the UK’s high data protection standards. This will allow for the free flow of personal information from the EU to the UK, and means businesses will be able to send and receive personal data to and from the EU without the need for additional compliance arrangements.

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