What a week for data privacy! Things are continuing to escalate in this realm, and now, even U.S. President Joe Biden is getting involved. For good reason, too. Digital consumers have more knowledge and rights than ever when it comes to data privacy and controlling the information they send out to companies. And businesses face steep fines, penalties, and reputational damage if they do not comply with current data privacy laws both locally and globally.
Let’s take a look at the top headlines.
Here’s what you need to know…
Is ChatGPT too good to be true? Like most free tools, we’re sorry to tell you that yes, it most likely is. ChatGPT relies on personal information to function. That means it is crawling and scraping data across the Internet to create the content and tools people so desperately want. Not only that, it’s also taking your personal information – first, your email address and phone number, then the questions you ask and why – in order to further its intellect. Are you willing to give that away for free? We didn’t think so. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Google, it’s that the tech giant isn’t particularly careful when it comes to handling and processing personal data. Be wary of ChatGPT. Not for the fears that it is replacing humans, but for the completely legitimate concern that it is harvesting data you may not want to share.
Aside from ChatGPT, let’s talk about Connecticut for a moment. As we all know, they are enacting their first state-wide data privacy law on July 1, 2023. There have been a number of changes since the bill has passed, and a lot of those have to do with child privacy laws. This isn’t particularly surprising, since child privacy laws are at top of mind for many lawmakers, including California, Colorado, New York, Utah, and Virginia. Most notably, Connecticut’s proposal includes a clause that allows consumers to opt out of any information from minors – and businesses who do collect that information will be faced with big fines.
In his second State of the Union address, U.S. President Joe Biden brought up the issue of data privacy. The General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) is a law that covers all E.U. nations – and the idea of having a Federal law in the U.S. as opposed to individual state laws has been tossed around for a while. This could be a unifying point, if states cooperate. Interestingly, Biden also mentioned the issue of children’s privacy without asserting that adult privacy is just as important. Why is that? There may be more sympathy toward the information of minors, knowing they don’t have the same legal power or protection as adults. Let’s see how far he gets with this proposal. The mention alone is a landmark for data privacy lawmakers everywhere.
The New York Times has reported that “few Americans understand online privacy.” Is this because there’s a lack of education, or because for too long, large businesses like Google, Apple, and Meta used less-than-honest practices regarding the usage of end user data? From our point of view, there is plenty of information about data privacy. However, it can be difficult for consumers to know if they’re getting it from a reliable source. Mistrust is a powerful motivator to turn away from information.
In a shocking statement, Morning Consult has published an article that says American adults are less concerned about their data being shared on healthcare apps. This comes as a total shock, given the news earlier this week about GoodRX and their data selling practices. GoodRX faced a big lawsuit and is under extra scrutiny. Of course, people are concerned. This article is worth a read, not because it is factual, but because it clearly demonstrates a blatant “head-in-the-sand” approach to data privacy and what people do and don’t know. Personal healthcare data is some of the most sensitive information out there, and it’s egregious for anyone to state that people simply don’t care anymore. If the data they’re showing is analyzed correctly, this publication is conflating the increased use of healthcare apps during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with a lack of care. That’s simply not true – people just had fewer options.
[Conclusion]
As data privacy concerns heat up in 2023, it’s especially important for your business to stay conscious of being in compliance with local and global laws. More countries are enacting them, lawmakers are making serious changes, and no business will go unseen.
If you’re a small or mid-sized id-sized business, you can take comfort in the fact that Adzapier products are built with companies like yours in mind. We respect consumer data and want the internet to be a safe place for everyone. That’s why our tools help you seamlessly follow the laws, give your customers what they want, and keep your business thriving.
Schedule a demo with one of our privacy experts today. They’ll get you set up within about 30 minutes. We’ll also give you 14 days of free compliance when you try out our products!