Privacy

Introduction to Data Privacy

Tiffany Lewis

Security and Privacy Instructor

Privacy's origin story

1800s conversations about technology and Privacy:
- Individuals' rights
- Sensationalist reporting
Privacy - The right to be left alone, or freedom from interference or intrusion.

Picture of a camera, notepad, and a hat with a press tag

¹ Samuel D. Warren and Louis D. Brandeis, "The Right to Privacy," Harvard Law Review, 4 (5), (1890): 193-220, p. 195, citing Judge Cooley in Cooley on Torts, 2nd ed.

Digging into today's definition of Privacy

Data Privacy - control over how personal data is collected and used.
"The authorized and valid processing of personal information."

Typing on laptop with privacy screen

¹ Bhajaria, Nishant, and Neil Hunt. Data Privacy: A Runbook for Engineers. Manning Publications Co., 2022.

Personal data

Personal data - data related to a person or can be used to identify an individual.
- Examples:
  - Date of birth (DOB)
  - Name
  - Geolocation
Goal to keep personal data safe

Survey asking about personal information

Privacy's expanding implications

Increase discussions in 21st-century due to:
- Internet
- Applications
- Larger data footprint
Privacy concerns include:
- Surveillance
- Big data analytics
- 3rd party providers

Privacy cartoon with spies and eyes

State of Privacy today

59%+ of Americans do not know what is being done with their data.
81% of Americans say that the risks of collecting data about them outweigh the benefits.

Potential causes:
- Lack of Privacy knowledge
- Lack of trust
- Lack of standardized regulation

Ripping trust paper

Privacy Implications

Privacy has different implications for different groups

Privacy Breakdown

PREACH

P (Purpose) - Why is the company asking to use your data?
R (Right to Request) - Do you have the ability to request changes to your information?
E (Easy to understand) - Is it easy to understand a company's policies?
A (Alerting) - Will you be alerted if the company mishandles your data?
C (Consent) - Have you given consent (i.e., permission) for your information to be used?
H (How) - How is the company or service planning to use your data?

Let's practice!

Introduction to Data Privacy