A convincing case for optimism: why data privacy is coded into our culture

02/20/24 • 51 min

How many accounts on different websites do you have?

Sharing our personal information online as a condition to access content has become a reflex. We hit the "I've read and agree to the terms and conditions" button without thinking about it. In fact, only a handful would notice if anything else is written in that box.

Yet things are starting to change; those worried about data privacy aren't only hackers anymore. The wave of awareness that questions what companies do with the personal information we share with them has started spreading to every corner of the cybersphere.

My guest, the brilliant and passionate Merry Marwig, is optimistic about the future of the data privacy landscape and believes it is already going through a positive transformation.

Merry is a Volunteer Advisor at The Plunk Foundation, a Privacy Consultant at DataGrail, and, as you'll see throughout our conversation, overly excited about data privacy tech.

Merry's thoughts on the evolution of data privacy programs stay firmly rooted in the reality of her research and data-driven approach, factors which also fuel the change seeping into people's perception over these issues, and the link between privacy and security.

With Merry’s help, you’ll also understand the emotional toll privacy harms have on you, me, and everyone else, and how ethical use of consumers' information can actually boost a company's growth, plus much more.

Episode highlights:

How privacy and security are different, but related (1:20)
The emotional toll of privacy harms (6:50)
Understanding how our data gets resold online (15:10)
Why now is the right time to do the right thing about data privacy (17:20)
How younger generations see data privacy (24:40)
Why privacy is part of our culture (29:30)
How our understanding of privacy is deepening (38:50)
Why even marketers are moving to privacy (46:40)

Connect with Merry:

Let's connect!

How many accounts on different websites do you have?

My guest, the brilliant and passionate Merry Marwig, is optimistic about the future of the data privacy landscape and believes it is already going through a positive transformation.

Merry is a Volunteer Advisor at The Plunk Foundation, a Privacy Consultant at DataGrail, and, as you'll see throughout our conversation, overly excited about data privacy tech.

Episode highlights:

How privacy and security are different, but related (1:20)
The emotional toll of privacy harms (6:50)
Understanding how our data gets resold online (15:10)
Why now is the right time to do the right thing about data privacy (17:20)
How younger generations see data privacy (24:40)
Why privacy is part of our culture (29:30)
How our understanding of privacy is deepening (38:50)
Why even marketers are moving to privacy (46:40)

Connect with Merry:

Let's connect!

Previous Episode

The underrated role of self-awareness in cybersecurity with Alyssa Miller

If you boil cybersecurity down to its essence, you'll find a hacker doing their best to educate, communicate, and help people see the world the way they do: with curiosity and the innate desire to understand it and make it better.

Yet what's the community reaction when a message fails to land as expected? It’s (still too) often victim-blaming, a sarcastic remark, or a vague piece of advice to do more of... something.

To our guest, Alyssa Miller, it all comes down to self-awareness and understanding that, frequently, impact is more important than intent. Being more aware of how and what we communicate may seem like a simple adjustment, but it is definitely the cornerstone of a more transparent, more thoughtful, and empathetic communication style in cybersecurity.

As SVP and CISO, Alyssa is responsible for aligning strategic security initiatives with business line objectives to protect customers' data and privacy. She is also a lifelong hacker, RSA and TEDx speaker, and the Author of "Cybersecurity Career Guide," a book she wrote to address the disconnect between the perceived scarcity of specialists in cybersecurity and all those pounding on the door trying to figure out how to get into the industry.

Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Alyssa's thoughts on the meaning of being a hacker, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness. She also talks about the importance of conferences in cybersecurity, why it is preferable to make friends instead of fans, her book, the lessons learned along the way, and much, much more.

Listen to this episode to discover:

When Alyssa started to see the world from an empathetic point of view (4:40)
What changes she experienced and witnessed since the industry began discussing empathy (14:00)
What (ethical) hackers actually do (18:50)
Why it’s better to make friends than to make fans (24:20)
What is a hacker? (31:30)
How to get into cybersecurity (42:10)

Resources mentioned:

Next Episode

Who says cybersecurity can’t be fun? How humor bands us together

Javvad is a brilliant Security Awareness Advocate, Speaker, sharp industry commentator, and one of the most prolific bloggers in the community. His natural talent for making the cybersecurity industry's most technical and complicated matters easy to understand is a gift and an inspiration.

Join me as Javvad masterfully dissects the negativity and the rationalization bias, using brilliant analogies to explain the disconnect between cybersecurity specialists' expectations and people’s responses to digital challenges.

And, if you’re up for it, help us answer this question: how can we make cybersecurity fun for people?

PS: This is not my AI-generated voice, but rather my adapter-damaged one. I only noticed the terrible quality after the recording, so please bear with me - or just skip to Javvad's parts, which are flawless!

Episode Highlights: