Data Protection Day: Industry comments

As the world marks Data Protection Day against a growing call for governments around the world to regulate how young people use social media, we asked media leaders for their insights on how lawmakers and companies need to adapt and change their approaches to data privacy amid a rapidly evolving technology landscape, with AI as a key driver…

Piero Pavone, CEO, Preciso

“Data Privacy Day is a useful reminder for everyone in ad tech that the customer is king and that their personal data is sacrosanct. Consumers are wiser than they have ever been to the concept of tracking using third-party cookies.

“A more sensible and effective approach is to invite them to share their personal data and their interests with you, and give them a good reason for doing so, and that’s not just about serving them with more relevant advertising.

“Invite them to sign up to your newsletter, and in doing so, be explicit about what’s in it for them- for example, early access to flash sales, discounts or other benefits.

“If the consumer can see what’s in it for them, they are much more likely to share their data with you.”

Adrienn Major, Founder, POD LDN

“With the rapid advances in AI that we are seeing today, data privacy is arguably becoming far more important.

“Those of us in the creative industries need to be able to ask questions such as where training data comes from, what is uploaded into tools and whether the brands actually own or control outputs, as well as how much human oversight exists.

“Users of these tools also need to be extremely cautious about where they are uploading their data, and what it will ultimately be used for.

Mattia Fosci, CEO, Anonymised

“Over the past 12 months, data protection has taken the backseat, shadowed by AI and engulfed in the transatlantic war of words.

“But the big unravelling of privacy regulations has not happened – in fact, big markets like India, Australia, Latin America and several US states have passed or implemented new data privacy laws.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll be seeing a more pragmatic and flexible approach to data protection, one that focuses on actual harms over abstract concepts and that tries to reconcile business needs with individual rights.

“Whatever the outcomes, businesses need one thing above all: certainty.”

Alexander Igelsböck, CEO, Adverity

“We’ve seen first-hand how the rapid adoption of new technologies like AI is creating fresh challenges around data privacy.

“As data becomes more accessible across organisations, more people are interacting with more datasets, more frequently and this in turn increases the risk of data being shared, accessed, or used incorrectly.

“As we adopt new tools and technology, businesses must be clear that data privacy and compliance can’t be bolted on after the fact, or left to regulators alone.

“Increased data democratisation must go hand in hand with robust data governance: clear controls over access and usage, and a shared commitment to ensuring data is accurate, clean and trustworthy.

“The silver lining is that taking this approach doesn’t just reduce risk; it strengthens the quality of your data too, giving businesses a more reliable foundation for getting the most out of AI tools.”