The future of online privacy is shaped by several critical trends and predictions, which have been highlighted by a range of sources.
- Global Increase in Data Privacy Regulations: The inception of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe marked the beginning of a global uptick in privacy regulations. By 2024, it’s expected that 75% of the global population will be under some form of privacy regulation.
- Data Localization: In a digitally borderless society, controlling where data resides is becoming increasingly important due to emerging privacy laws. This is leading to new strategies in cloud service design and acquisition, with data localization becoming a top priority.
- Privacy-Enhancing Computation Techniques: As the complexity of analytics engines increases, there’s a growing need for by-design privacy capabilities. Privacy-enhancing computation (PEC) techniques, which protect data in use, will become more prevalent, with a prediction that 60% of large organizations will use at least one PEC technique in analytics and cloud computing by 2025.
- AI Governance: AI privacy breaches are a growing concern, with 40% of organizations experiencing one. The integration of AI in various systems, including those tracking employee behavior or assessing consumer sentiment, necessitates AI governance to prevent misuse of personal data and handle the impact on future decisions.
- Centralized Privacy UX: With increasing consumer demand for transparency and control over their data, a centralized privacy user experience (UX) is becoming more important. This involves integrating aspects like notices, cookies, consent management, and handling of subject rights requests into a single portal.
- The Rise of Hybrid Work Environments: The shift to hybrid work models increases the potential for personal data processing activities, elevating privacy risks.
- Developing Privacy Regulations in the United States: The U.S. is seeing more states introduce data privacy laws, with California’s Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), Colorado Privacy Act (CPA), Connecticut Data Privacy Act, and Utah Consumer Privacy Act all coming into effect in 2023.
- Increased Investment in Privacy Technologies: Businesses are increasing their spending on compliance with privacy laws, and are investing more in privacy technologies. This change is partly driven by evolving advertising and marketing models that are moving away from sharing personal information.
- More Privacy-Related Fines: Notable increases in fines for GDPR breaches have been observed, with companies like Meta facing significant penalties. This trend is expected to continue, reflecting stricter enforcement of privacy regulations.
- AI and the Metaverse: The integration of AI and the emergence of the metaverse will significantly impact privacy. The challenge lies in balancing the deployment of these technologies with privacy protection, with piecemeal legislation like the EU’s AI Act being a probable scenario.
- AI Regulation Proposals by the European Commission: The European Commission is actively working on regulating AI through initiatives like the AI Act and the AI Liability Directive. The focus is on defining high-risk AI systems and limiting the use of AI in biometric recognition systems.
- Impact of AI on Privacy and Individual Freedom: The widespread use of AI across various aspects of life, including in emotional analysis technologies, raises significant concerns for privacy and individual freedom. The response of data protection laws to these advancements remains a pivotal area of focus.
These trends indicate a future where online privacy is increasingly regulated, with significant advancements in technology and a corresponding rise in privacy-enhancing measures and governance.