eaders everywhere have acknowledged that our personal digital data is at risk, and we must act now. Our digital infrastructure is becoming more vulnerable while everyday engagements—including and in particular among our youth—are increasingly and often exclusively online. Gen Z and those following do not know the world without the internet, and our children are increasingly enabled by their smartphones—the new ‘entry’ into adulthood. The COVID–19 pandemic accelerated the deployment and expansion of online engagement strategies across all major industries, from education to finance to commerce. There are now more than 5 billion internet users worldwide today and online marketplaces account for the single largest share of purchases worldwide.
At the heart of digital engagement lies the provisioning of personal data (oftentimes identity, economic/financial and other sensitive information) that can be exploited by malicious hackers, big technology companies, and even nation states, all looking to exploit individuals’ data for economic, political or more nefarious purposes. How well do we understand the degree to which we expose ourselves and our identities online? Have we gotten so used to scrolling through disclosures and hitting “Accept” that we’re not thinking about the voluminous personal data we willingly hand to anointed ‘intermediaries’ in the internet economy?
Mobile and smartphone penetration rates have increased worldwide including the most remote and underdeveloped economies and jurisdictions. This has provided new avenues to provide essential services (e.g. education, finance, etc.) in ways never previously afforded by the analog or brick–and–mortar world. The increased adoption of digital wallets, peer–to–peer payments, online education platforms and social media–enabled platforms connect an ever–broadening network of individuals and companies, while opening new threat vectors to personal data. Are we ensuring that our citizenry—now in a borderless interconnected web–native economy—and particularly our youth, are well equipped to ensure they can keep their data safe from exploitation?
Our presumed safety and security online has enabled the ‘Internet of Things (IOT),’ but we are woefully behind ensuring we are guiding responsible and disciplined online behavior. With the power of AI enabling disinformation and exploitative services at a pace never before seen, we have not yet secured our ‘digital commons’ with essential personal protections. Our personal digital identities are essential to unlock many services and the necessary controls for personal data rights and digital engagement should now be a top–line international security priority.
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Make online personal data an international security priority
Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels.
December 12, 2024
In an interconnected digital world, our personal data is increasingly at risk. It's time to prioritize online privacy and make data security a global imperative, writes Amit Sharma.
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eaders everywhere have acknowledged that our personal digital data is at risk, and we must act now. Our digital infrastructure is becoming more vulnerable while everyday engagements—including and in particular among our youth—are increasingly and often exclusively online. Gen Z and those following do not know the world without the internet, and our children are increasingly enabled by their smartphones—the new ‘entry’ into adulthood. The COVID–19 pandemic accelerated the deployment and expansion of online engagement strategies across all major industries, from education to finance to commerce. There are now more than 5 billion internet users worldwide today and online marketplaces account for the single largest share of purchases worldwide.
At the heart of digital engagement lies the provisioning of personal data (oftentimes identity, economic/financial and other sensitive information) that can be exploited by malicious hackers, big technology companies, and even nation states, all looking to exploit individuals’ data for economic, political or more nefarious purposes. How well do we understand the degree to which we expose ourselves and our identities online? Have we gotten so used to scrolling through disclosures and hitting “Accept” that we’re not thinking about the voluminous personal data we willingly hand to anointed ‘intermediaries’ in the internet economy?
Mobile and smartphone penetration rates have increased worldwide including the most remote and underdeveloped economies and jurisdictions. This has provided new avenues to provide essential services (e.g. education, finance, etc.) in ways never previously afforded by the analog or brick–and–mortar world. The increased adoption of digital wallets, peer–to–peer payments, online education platforms and social media–enabled platforms connect an ever–broadening network of individuals and companies, while opening new threat vectors to personal data. Are we ensuring that our citizenry—now in a borderless interconnected web–native economy—and particularly our youth, are well equipped to ensure they can keep their data safe from exploitation?
Our presumed safety and security online has enabled the ‘Internet of Things (IOT),’ but we are woefully behind ensuring we are guiding responsible and disciplined online behavior. With the power of AI enabling disinformation and exploitative services at a pace never before seen, we have not yet secured our ‘digital commons’ with essential personal protections. Our personal digital identities are essential to unlock many services and the necessary controls for personal data rights and digital engagement should now be a top–line international security priority.
