Privacy Across the Pond, Part 1

From privacy to identity to work-life flow — CTO and Head of Strategy, Andrzej Kawalec and GM and Global Vice President of Digital Identity and Data Management, Julie Talbot-Hubbard break down all things privacy, data and identity in Part 1 of Privacy Across the Pond.

Listen to our podcast for the full interview between Andrzej and Julie. 

Question 1: Is privacy dead?

Andrzej: I was really hoping that you could help us answer some questions around conversations we've been having, certainly on this side of the Atlantic. The place that we seem to start most often is around the whole concept of identity and privacy being two sides of the same coin. Every time I have this conversation, I'm reminded that people don't seem to think that privacy is a real thing anymore. I'm not sure people do care about privacy. They're willing to give it up at a click just for a few percent discount or an additional level of service. Is this something you're seeing in the United States as well? Is privacy dead?

Julie: Something I've seen is that, as social media and the consumerization of IT increase, individuals are willing to give up data on themselves. We're seeing a trend where individuals are willing to give up [data], whether it be their shopping patterns or anything that they do online. I do see individuals trending in that direction. But I would question – Do individuals understand what's happening with that data and how that data's being used? I really do not feel today that we've educated individuals enough to understand how companies are using that data about them and around them.

Question 2: Do any sacred lines exist when it comes to data?

Andrzej: People are using their data to get greater benefit from digital services, which is absolutely right. And if you're not buying a product but benefiting from a service, then your data is what you're paying. I'm not sure people have really internalized the fact that if they're receiving a free service via a social media platform or a communications platform, if they're not paying for that, then their data is the currency from which they are getting that service for free. And I think that there's a really interesting trade-off there. Do you think there are any sacred lines or things that people just won't share anymore?

Julie: From a sacred standpoint, I haven't seen it yet. I think we will get there, more from a healthcare perspective. I do feel that once individuals start seeing how that data is being used and tracked around them there's going to be some more discussion around that because I think healthcare tips the scale more for privacy. When it's things that people really care about, and if it's really personal to them, I feel that's where they get more engaged. 

From a financial services standpoint and from a fraud perspective, I do think that we could see some lines blurring there officially as well. I could see individuals becoming more concerned around some of their shopping and financial habits.

Question 3: Are people blurring – or separating – their personal and professional lives? 

Andrzej: We're seeing a blur between private lives and professional lives as our work patterns change. In particular, I think where those working patterns become much more project-based and people move between jobs, between tasks, between different groups of people that they collaborate with. Do you think that people are blurring their personal and professional lives? Or are you increasingly seeing people separating their personal and professional lives?

Julie: I can approach this two different ways. We hear about not “work-life balance” anymore but “work-life flow.” That's a big catchy phrase here about being digitally connected to your job and work. It's expected that you're on all the time. Then how do you have that balance between your work and your life? I see some people stepping in and really blurring those lines more, but I still see more individuals really trying to separate that as much as possible. If you look at social media, who people are connected with on social media, what information they're sharing – I'd say more people are still separating that.

But if we go back to the previous question around privacy and data being collected and we talk about what's sacred, from a private standpoint, there's a lot of data being collected on individuals today. The younger generation might not yet understand that impact. But when you're going to your doctor, you're sharing that information. Private data is being collected and can impact your professional life as well. So, I do see that blur happening, but I think it's becoming increasingly more difficult because of that work-life flow and the expectations that people are always connected to their work and need to be always on. Individuals are prioritizing how they can really have that work-life flow and do what they want to do in their lives, but also advance their career. They are giving up their privacy, I think, to really meet the obligation as well.