Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Vivek Kumar, Assistant Vice President, Data Protection, EXL Service Holdings, Inc. We discuss various topics related to data privacy and protection. Vivek emphasizes the importance of catering to a broad audience and explaining acronyms. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by both large and small companies in ensuring compliance and building effective risk assessment frameworks. We discuss the importance of accountability and transparency in AI development, the need for regulations to ensure fairness and transparency in AI, and the importance of privacy by design. We also discuss the growing importance of consent management in data protection, the challenges of managing consent life cycles, and the need for communication and awareness across departments to avoid missed touchpoints and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. We also discuss the challenges of implementing privacy compliance within organizations and the need for privacy-enhancing technology to address these challenges. Finally, we discuss the importance of privacy in data governance and the challenges of implementing effective privacy programs, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic and balanced approach to privacy in the face of evolving technologies and regulations and his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Kimberly Gold, Chief Privacy Officer, Senior Associate General Counsel, and Executive Director, Privacy Law, Genentech (BioTech). We discuss her unique journey into the world of privacy. Starting as a corporate attorney, she gradually developed a keen interest in the intersection of healthcare and technology. The discussion revolves around the intricate realm of privacy within the biotech industry, governed by a complex web of regulations, including HIPAA, state privacy laws, clinical trial regulations, and consumer protection laws. Kimberly underscores the significant impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on healthcare privacy and stresses the importance of its responsible and ethical use. Throughout the episode, Kimberly dispels misconceptions surrounding HIPAA, emphasizing that it is not a comprehensive privacy law and covers only a limited scope of healthcare-related information. State privacy laws, she notes, play a crucial role in filling the gaps left by HIPAA, with a focus on protecting health data not covered by federal law. Kimberly also highlights specific state initiatives, such as the My Health, My Data Act in Washington state, designed to safeguard health privacy, particularly in reproductive healthcare.

The conversation resonates with notable quotes from Kimberly, including her belief in the abundant opportunities for those interested in privacy and technology-related work. She also advocates for a federal privacy law in the United States as a forward-looking step in safeguarding privacy rights. In conclusion, this podcast episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of privacy in biotech, the challenges posed by AI, and the importance of responsible data practices to protect patient privacy and her wish for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Julie Schroeder, General Counsel/Chief Legel Officer, AI/ML Thought Leader. We discuss the misconceptions surrounding AI and the importance of understanding its limitations and risks. We emphasize the need to differentiate between AI and data sets and the importance of understanding the ethics and bias issues related to AI. They also discussed the complexities of data and AI, including the potential for bias and limitations in the data used and the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to data and AI analysis.

Julie shared her career journey, including becoming a tech founder and General Counsel with expertise in AI and data. She emphasizes the importance of understanding data ownership, Data lineage, and risk management in the healthcare industry and the need to move away from the idea of a company being like Santa's workshop with fragmented roles. It is important to have people like Julie in the future of corporations who can understand and communicate with different groups.

We discuss Julie’s extensive expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and engage in a deep exploration of the intricate relationship between law and Data Privacy within the context of AI and ML technologies. Julie begins by dispelling the common misconception that AI is a recent development, tracing its evolution back to the 1950s and 60s. She emphasizes that AI is not a singular technology but rather a category encompassing various subfields, including machine learning and natural language processing. Throughout the episode, the significance of understanding data lineage and ownership is underscored, particularly for companies seeking to leverage AI effectively. Julie also highlights the inherent limitations of AI, emphasizing that it cannot replace human judgment in complex and nuanced tasks. Moreover, she acknowledges the persistent challenge of bias in AI systems, shedding light on the complexities of mitigating bias entirely. The discussion concludes by stressing the importance of comprehensive data collection, as the absence of data can lead to skewed results and erroneous conclusions. This episode offers valuable insights into the legal and ethical dimensions of AI and Data Privacy, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of these technologies in today's evolving landscape and her hopes for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, "The Data Diva" talks to Pádraig O'Leary, Co-founder and CEO of Trust Works. We discuss Data Privacy issues in the enterprise, and the challenges organizations face in Data Privacy and protection, including the need for a more proactive approach to tackling these challenges. We delve into the difficulties of dealing with right-to-be-forgotten requests, including the lack of accurate data mapping and the need for flexibility in finding the right solutions. Additionally, we touch on the challenges of dealing with unstructured data and the need for a risk-based approach to Data Privacy, as well as the importance of considering the limitations of automation in Data Privacy and protection.

We discuss how Trust Works differentiates itself in the crowded privacy space. Padraig explains that the company emphasizes collaboration and automation and that its approach to privacy tool design drives certain choices in how the solution is designed. We also discuss the challenge of AI creep, where companies may unknowingly adopt AI-powered tools without considering the risks associated with them.

We suggest that companies must build a second data map specifically for AI-powered tools and that privacy professionals must be involved in this process. Additionally, they propose the idea of a kill switch functionality to turn off AI capabilities if necessary.

Finally, we discuss the challenges of building diverse and skilled privacy teams. Padraig emphasizes that privacy professionals need to have a unique set of skills that bring together legal, technical, operational, and ethical considerations. Debbie agrees and highlights the benefits of having a well-rounded team of people who understand data and the different angles data challenges take. They both believe that more people from diverse backgrounds and industries must be brought into privacy to build diversity in the field and his wish for the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Kim Emiru, Vice President, Privacy, Sony Pictures Entertainment. We discuss the importance of considering privacy first when approaching a job, especially in multinational corporations where privacy laws and cultural expectations vary. We discuss the complexities of hiring for privacy positions and the impact of data collection on minority populations. We stress the importance of diverse viewpoints in improving businesses and the need for more opportunities for people of color in the privacy field. We also discussed the importance of privacy in the workplace and how it can impact career prospects, as well as the rise of Generative AI and the need for sensible policies and guidelines to be put in place to ensure that employees are aware of the risks and benefits of using new technologies.

We discuss the challenges of navigating the complex privacy laws in the US and the potential impact of AI on privacy legislation and the importance of being mindful about sharing information on social media, especially when it comes to children, and the upcoming changes in child privacy laws, including the California Age Appropriate Design Code. We emphasize the importance of building relationships and supporting each other in the workplace, as well as the need for clear definitions and consistency in privacy legislation to protect individuals while making it as easy as possible for businesses to comply and her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Nereida Parks, a Data Privacy, Information, and Data Governance professional Specializing in AI Ethics and Biometrics. We discuss various topics related to data privacy and data governance, emphasizing the importance of data privacy as an operational issue and not just a legal issue and the need for proper training and processes to prevent internal breaches. We also discuss the challenges and risks associated with AI initiatives, including biases and heightened privacy risks, and the importance of responsibility and ethics in developing and using these technologies. We stress the need for companies to prioritize Data Privacy and invest in proper infrastructure to protect themselves and their customers. We also discuss the importance of good data stewardship and transparency in data collection and deletion and the need to protect people's Data Privacy and prohibit the selling or profiting from people's data. We emphasize the need for consistent policies and laws that encompass all elements of Data Privacy and ethics and the difficulties of navigating different laws in different U.S. states. We also discuss the challenges of data retention and destruction, particularly in relation to Data Privacy issues and the need for proper means to destroy data that no longer has business value. We emphasize the importance of continuous learning and change management in implementing data privacy programs and other new concepts in organizations.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Beatrice Botti, Vice President, Chief Privacy Officer, DoubleVerify. We discuss Beatrice's career journey and how she found the privacy industry. We also discuss the importance of privacy and the need for technical engineers to get involved in privacy projects. Beatrice also shared her personal experience of being a private person and how it has influenced her career. We discuss the challenges of providing transparency to users when they lack the necessary knowledge and the potential for unintended outcomes of AI. She also highlighted the need for more education around privacy and online security and the potential for automated decision-making to have a negative impact on people's lives. We discuss the impact of credit score drops, machine learning, and cross-border data transfers on people's lives. We agree that the Internet was built to bridge distance, not to make it greater and that federal legislation is needed to fix the issue of data transfers. We discuss the difficulty of understanding the ever-changing laws and regulations. Beatrice Botti and Debbie Reynolds discussed the importance of bridging the gap between technology and the general public to increase transparency and understanding of privacy and data protection. They also discussed using pop culture movies to help people understand privacy better, and her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks to Tom Kemp, Silicon Valley-based Entrepreneur, Seed/Angel Investor, Policy Advisor, and Author. We discuss a range of topics related to privacy and emerging technology. We discuss the difference between cybersecurity and privacy and the need for a federal privacy law that harmonizes the language and definitions of personal data. We also discuss the societal impact of data management and the need to protect civil rights, the economy, and democracy. The conversation then turns to the urgent need for privacy rights and the challenges of protecting personal data in the age of AI and big tech. We highlight the concerns around the weaponization of data and the creation of a digital caste system and the need for laws to give people privacy rights, including the right to know what's being collected, the right to say no to collection and selling, the right to correct, and the right to delete. Finally, they discuss the broader need for the Global Privacy Control (GPC) and Universal Opt-Out signals to address consumer privacy concerns. We agree that companies should pay close attention to GPC and respect the opt-out signal to avoid potential legal issues. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of privacy practitioners ensuring that their businesses are not exposed to the risks associated with third-party pixels. We end by discussing the importance of work in addressing privacy issues, the need to communicate these issues to a wider audience, and his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Swanti Handa, Privacy Product Executive, X formally known as Twitter. We discuss the importance of data responsibility and how it applies to emerging technologies like AI. Swati shares personal experiences with identity theft and online fraud that have shaped her mission toward a Data Privacy career. We emphasize the need for individuals and organizations to take responsibility for protecting user data and prioritize user-centricity and privacy in their data practices. We also discuss the limitations of de-identification and encryption in protecting privacy, the potential consequences of misusing data, and the need for transparency and user control. We explore various privacy concerns and solutions, including lack of control for end users, facial recognition technology, and privacy for young adults. We discuss the challenges faced by companies and schools when implementing emerging technologies and stressed the importance of assessing and mitigating risks and her wish for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to David Hendrawirawan, Owner of Code Ninjas, Adjunct Professor, University of Texas at Austin, Data & AI Governance Research and Education. We discuss privacy education for future generations and the challenges of educating people about data privacy issues, particularly in the K-12 space. We explore the potential harm of not being informed about Data Privacy issues and the need for data literacy at all levels of education and society. The lack of focus on data privacy in current curriculums was highlighted, and the challenges of incorporating these issues into K-12 education were discussed. The complex legal and ethical issues surrounding data scraping are explored, including the lack of strong laws and the broad use of consent. The need for limitations on what can be consented to, particularly in cases where it could potentially harm others, is emphasized. The challenges of teaching cybersecurity and coding in K-12 education is discussed, with David explaining that the traditional curriculum is not advanced enough in this area, and schools are struggling to keep up with basic expectations from state and federal governments. The importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership and education is also discussed, with David sharing his experience of receiving a Diversity and Inclusion Amplifier award for his privacy and data governance class and his dream of creating a school that focuses on data literacy, AI literacy, and privacy literacy. The challenges of pursuing education and the importance of helping society are also highlighted, with David sharing his experiences of facing more rejections than acceptances in his field but remaining committed to his cause and hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Walter Robinson, Data Privacy Manager, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. We discuss Walter's transition from litigation to data privacy, the importance of collaboration and communication inside organizations, and the need for comprehensive federal privacy legislation. They also discussed the implications of using AI and chatbots with corporate data. Walter Robinson and Debbie Reynolds discuss the implications of AI and data privacy, with Walter advocating for transparency from companies and people when it comes to data collection and usage. They also discussed the potential for state laws to have a ripple effect on data privacy regulations. Finally, they discussed the need for education on data privacy and the potential for federal privacy law, and his hopes for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, "The Data Diva" talks to Colby Scullion, CEO of Avantis Privacy. We discuss the issue of data brokers collecting and selling personal data, including location data, without the knowledge of the people whose data is being collected. We discuss how data brokers may employ deceptive techniques to make it difficult to opt out of their services and how some companies are taking advantage of the lack of laws around Data Privacy. We discuss how data brokers can build large profiles of people with data points that even family members may not know about, the risks of location data for businesses, the potential misuse of data by employers, and the lack of privacy regulation in the US. We discuss how politicians use data brokers to obtain data and services and how this is becoming cheaper and more concerning. We discuss the difficulty of opting out of data sharing and the need for strong national privacy laws to protect individuals' data. We discuss the potential of a trust economy, where people can give their data to companies they trust, the need for companies to communicate with customers in plain language, and his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Victoria Beckman, Associate General Counsel - Security & Privacy, Shopify. We discuss the importance of pursuing one's interests and being open to new opportunities in technology fields. We also explore the complex relationship between cybersecurity and privacy, third-party risk management and compliance challenges, and the increasing importance of supply chain and cybersecurity. Additionally, we stress the importance of diversity in the tech industry and the need for representation and role models to encourage more women and people of color to enter the field. Debbie Reynolds seeks advice from Beckman on collaborating with different groups of people in a corporate environment, and Beckman shares her experience of transitioning from a law firm to a corporation. She emphasizes the importance of being approachable, explaining things in a way the receiver will understand, and putting herself in their shoes to find creative solutions. Reynolds acknowledges that Beckman is bridging the gap between the theory of the law and the mechanics and operational side of what the teams need to do, highlighting the importance of understanding the resources and tools available to achieve the desired outcome and her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Isabella De Michelis, CEO and Founder, ErnieApp, Your Privacy Knowledge Manager. We discuss Data Privacy and the effects of GDPR, and the importance of striking a balance between rights and technology. Isabella's background in working for large corporations. Privacy has a geopolitical dimension, and the Europeans created the GDPR to protect data sovereignty. The US and China have different approaches to privacy regulation, with the US being more business-focused and the Chinese government having more control. The GDPR and other European regulations are designed to protect individuals' rights and allow them to monetize their data. The US is still struggling to create a federal privacy law, and companies are trying to get as much data as possible without a right to be forgotten. There is a connection between Data Privacy and competition, with access to data being the main link. Isabella discusses the implications of AI on the market, noting that it carries enormous costs and creates an unsurmountable barrier to entry for new players. She also discusses the need for governments to have a cut of the profits and for users to have the right to choose how their data is used. Finally, she proposed a two-sided policy of privacy and competition to redistribute the value created by the interaction between humans and machines and shares her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Igor Barshteyn, who is a Senior Manager, Information Security & Compliance Expert. We discuss Igor’s work in information security and data privacy and his passion for the implications of artificial intelligence on data privacy. He is a signatory of the Future of Life Institute's open letter asking for a pause in the deployment of AI systems to the public. He believes regulation with mandatory penalties is needed to protect data privacy and that the EU AI Act will set the standard for AI regulation worldwide. Igor believes that the US should have mandatory penalties for companies that fail to protect user data privacy rather than relying on voluntary frameworks. He also believes that AI models should be decentralized so that users can have more control over their data rather than relying on large companies to store and manage it. Igor believes that this will become more important as the world becomes more geopolitically unstable and there is more competition in terms of hacking and cyber warfare. Igor Barshteyn and Debbie Reynolds discuss the importance of data privacy and security and the need for companies to provide training and education to their staff in order to ensure that they are up to date with the latest technologies and regulations. We also discussed the need for individuals to be aware of the risks associated with using technology and to read privacy policies and end-user license agreements and his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Cari Miller, Sr. Principal, Practice Lead, Responsible AI Governance & Research at The Center for Inclusive Change. We discuss the lack of employee data rights in the US and Cari Miller's research into the Full Spectrum Employee Data Taxonomy, which includes PII, sensitive voluntary information, credentials, position history, and company/enterprise data. We discuss the implications of AI, such as the over-collection of data, systemic bias, and the need for guardrails. We also discuss New York State's requirement for companies to do audits of AI systems. We conclude that governance does not have to be difficult, but it is important to think through and figure out what makes the most sense. Cari is concerned about the lack of rules and regulations surrounding the use of AI in the employee life cycle, which can lead to discrimination, alienation, and a lack of well-being. She believes that the right guardrails need to be put in place to ensure that AI is used responsibly and that it is tested and built by diverse people. Debbie Reynolds agrees and brings up an example of how AI can be used to target people with disabilities. Cari Miller discussed the need for data minimization, usage assessments, and deletion rules in order to protect data privacy. She also highlighted the need for a US Federal Data Privacy law to avoid companies having to comply with different laws in different states. Finally, she discussed the need to protect children's data, as it is often used to make decisions about them, and her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Stephen Lawton, Founder of AFAB Consulting LLC, Cybersecurity Expert, and Technology Journalist. We discuss the importance of understanding the history of technology, the potential issues with AI, and the need to be aware of service-level agreements when using cloud services. We also discuss the potential for data to be shifted from one country to another and the need to be aware of regulations when using cloud services. AI has been around for a while, but it is now breaking into the consumer market. Cyber insurance companies are using AI to analyze submissions from potential customers, and self-attestation is falling out of favor. Companies need to have good network hygiene and use AI to analyze data but also have a human analyst to do fine-tuning. Cyber insurance policies for small businesses may be different from those for larger companies. Privacy laws are becoming more important this year. We discuss the complexity of privacy laws in the US and the need for a U.S. Federal privacy law. We discuss the importance of cybersecurity becoming a board-level responsibility and the need for more verification and less self-attestation. Lastly, they discussed the difficulty of passing a federal privacy law due to the lack of trust in Washington. and his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Andowah Newton, Former Vice President of Legal Affairs for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. We discuss Newton’s background in math, accounting, and auditing and how she became well-versed in technology through computer classes and gaming. She also talks about her international experience, including her experience of having dual law degrees from Cornell Law Scholl in the US and The Univerity of Paris at the Sorbonne in France, and a time when she was the only American lawyer in the judicial chambers at the Hague, and how it gave her a unique perspective on international data privacy issues. Newton discusses her experience dealing with technology and data privacy issues while working for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a European company that encompassed 70 different brands and several different industries. We discuss the use of advanced technology in the beauty and fashion industry, which allows for the personalization of products and the collection of more specific personal data. We also discuss the potential privacy concerns related to data collection in the beauty and fashion industry and highlight the need for companies to reevaluate the data they are collecting and the importance of obtaining informed consent from customers. Newton analyzes the cultural and legal differences between the US and Europe, focusing on privacy, fashion, celebrity culture, and legal systems. She notes that the US has a more flexible approach to laws and values privacy less than European countries, which have a more structured and formal approach. She also highlights the differences between the common law system in the US and the code-based civil law system in Europe, how these differences contribute to the gaps in data privacy laws, and her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Correction: Ms. Newton would like to correct the statement about her time at the Hague made in the podcast audio. During her time at the Hague, Ms. Newton was the only American lawyer in the judicial chambers at the Hague, not the only American lawyer at the Hague.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Dr. Augustine Fou, FouAnalytics, Independent Ad Fraud Researcher, Marketing Science Consulting Group, Inc. We discuss Augustine's journey in analytics, the importance of marketing on the Internet, and the rise of AdTech targeting and its implications for privacy. We also discuss Augustine's platform, Fou Analytics, which focuses on digital media analytics. Dr. Fou explains that third-party tracking of individuals is a privacy issue and that cookies are just a convenient metaphor for it. He also explains that even if third-party cookies are removed, tracking of individuals without their consent is still an issue. He further explains that fingerprinting is becoming more prevalent as a way to uniquely identify users without using PII. Dr. Fou discussed the dangers of data brokers, biometrics, and bots in relation to privacy and accuracy. He warned people to be more cautious and suspicious of anything they see online and suggested that advertisers use less targeting data as it is not helping their advertising campaigns. He also suggested using a third-party authenticator instead of biometrics for login purposes. Dr. Fou discussed how digital marketing should be done like it was in 1995, with advertisements bought from legitimate publishers, to restore the original contract of the internet between consumers, publishers, and advertisers. He also discussed how bots have been used to create fake content for websites for the last 20 years and how this has caused an increase in fraud in digital advertising. Finally, he suggested that if the original contract of the internet is restored, it will lead to better digital marketing, more revenue for legitimate publishers, and better privacy for consumers, and shares his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Jamal Ahmed, Global Privacy Consultant, Kazient Privacy Experts. We discuss Debbie's admiration for Jamal's ability to create a rich community of people around Data Privacy and Data Protection. They also discuss Jamal's background as a non-lawyer in data protection and how he brings his diverse experiences into privacy. Jamal believes that anyone can have a thriving career in anything and that it is important to recognize the transferable skills and values that one already has. He also believes that it is important to be able to speak to people in a language they understand and to create a strong community of like-minded people who are open to sharing and helping each other. He also believes that there are people in the industry with both a fixed and a growth mindset. Jamal Ahmed believes that AI can be used to enhance businesses, and people should have a growth mindset to use it to their advantage. He is concerned about the UK's direction in terms of privacy and human rights and prefers the UK's principled approach to AI compared to the EU's prescriptive approach. Jamal and Debbie discuss the potential dangers of AI and the importance of understanding the GDPR and the OECD guidelines in order to ensure data is kept secure and private. They also discuss the need for businesses to understand their responsibilities and for privacy professionals to be able to explain the regulations in an easy to understand way. Jamal shares his experience of being a person of color in the Data Privacy industry and emphasized the importance of striving for excellence to overcome any biases. He also expressed his appreciation for Debbie Reynolds' support and influence in inspiring him and others to pursue their goals and hope for Data Privacy in the future.