Debra Farber, a globally recognized privacy, security, and ethical tech advisor with nearly two decades of experience, discusses data privacy, privacy by design, and the growing field of privacy engineering in this Kitecast episode. As the host of the Shifting Privacy Left podcast, Farber is dedicated to building a community of privacy engineers and bridging the silos between various industries and research areas.

In this Kitecast episode, Farber emphasized the importance of embedding privacy into product development from the outset. She highlighted the role of privacy engineers in assessing risks, minimizing data collection, and ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR. Farber also discussed the challenges organizations face in hiring privacy engineers due to the high demand and limited supply of qualified professionals in this relatively new field.

Farber explained the distinction between privacy by design and privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs). Privacy by design is a set of high-level principles focused on integrating privacy into systems from the beginning, while PETs are specific tools and techniques that help achieve compliance with data protection principles. Some examples of PETs include anonymization, homomorphic encryption, secure multi-party computing, and differential privacy.

The conversation also touched on the potential return on investment for organizations that prioritize privacy. By minimizing data collection and addressing privacy concerns early in the development process, companies can reduce downstream compliance costs, legal expenses, and the risk of fines associated with data breaches or privacy violations.

In addition to the above, Farber shared her thoughts on artificial intelligence and its impact on personal privacy. While acknowledging the potential risks, she emphasized that the real threat lies in the unchecked powers of those bringing AI to market without appropriate safety measures and testing. Farber advocates for the ethical development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring that privacy standards are applied correctly to mitigate risks and protect individuals’ rights.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/privacyguru

Shifting Privacy Left Media: https://shiftingprivacyleft.com

Check out video versions of Kitecast episodes at https://www.kiteworks.com/kitecast or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/KiteworksCGCP.