Data privacy: a schizophrenic concern

Data privacy: a schizophrenic concern

With new technologies, consumers and internet users are both generating huge amounts of data and are increasing their concerns about who owns that information, how it can be misused, and for what. The number of people experiencing incidents of identity theft has been skyrocketing, and not to mention the threat of phishing which is particularly high on social media. Similarly, now the regular hacking of celebrities' private nude photos illustrates another type of violation of privacy based on stolen personal data from cyberspace.

One conclusion can be easily drawn from this example: private data has become increasingly vulnerable to cybercrime. Companies, governments, and global and local players are actively trying to develop actions against this new form of criminal activity through legislation, prevention, international cooperation and market solutions.

Indeed the opportunity for regulation and profit is huge. Today, the vast majority of internet users state being worried about on line privacy and security. However, identity theft, hacking, and phishing have something in common: they all rely on stolen information that is stored, saved and transmitted through social media and other avenues voluntarily by the “victims” themselves. This contradiction hides a bigger paradox: sharing more but giving less. Beyond this paradox, there might be a certain lack of consistency.