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Debbie Reynolds, "The Data Diva" talks to Mike Swift, the Chief Global Digital Risk Correspondent at MLex. Mike's extensive background in journalism and his focus on the intersection of technology and the law gives him a compelling perspective on the conversation.

Mike discusses his career journey, from reporting on major tech companies like Google and Facebook at The San Jose Mercury News to covering digital risk, privacy, and antitrust issues at MLex. The conversation highlights the increasing overlap between privacy and antitrust. Mike offers insights into significant cases involving Google's ad tech practices and the ongoing debate between Apple and Google over app store control.

The episode's central theme is the evolving view of personal data as a consumer protection issue and a national security concern. Mike reflects on recent legislative efforts to restrict the flow of Americans' data to foreign adversaries, marking a notable shift in privacy discourse at the federal level.

Debbie and Mike explore the growing influence of data brokers, who often operate without direct relationships with consumers while amassing and selling vast amounts of personal data. They discuss the 23andMe breach and raise questions about the adequacy of credit monitoring as a remedy for biometric data leaks.

Artificial intelligence also takes center stage as the two unpack the debate over regulation and innovation. Mike shares insights on California's legislative efforts to regulate powerful AI systems, emphasizing the need to balance technological advancement with consumer protection and privacy safeguards.

The discussion highlights the U.S.'s lack of comprehensive federal privacy legislation, exposing consumers to risks while creating inconsistent protections across states. Mike underscores the need for stronger regulatory guardrails and advocates for recognizing privacy as a fundamental human right.

This episode offers a deep dive into the intersection of technology, law, and privacy. Mike provides valuable insights on the current and future landscape of data governance and shares his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

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Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks to Luke Mulks, Vice President of Business Operations at Brave Software and host of the Brave Technologist podcast.

Luke shares his unique journey from working in ad tech to joining Brave Software, where he now champions a privacy-first approach to browsing and online advertising. The conversation explores the profound issues in the ad tech ecosystem, the challenges of data over-collection, and the opportunities for innovation in building user-respecting solutions.

Luke discusses the evolution of ad targeting from domain-specific ads to intrusive audience tracking across the web, underscoring how these methods have fueled surveillance capitalism. He explains how Brave Software takes a fundamentally different approach by respecting user privacy as a default setting while creating viable business models. By leveraging privacy-preserving technologies, Brave has proven that companies can monetize digital ecosystems without compromising user trust.

Debbie and Luke address global privacy controls (GPC) and the broader regulatory landscape, highlighting its limitations and the challenges of relying on companies to act in good faith. Luke emphasizes that privacy solutions must be built into the technology—“an architectural and foundational approach”—rather than depending on users to opt into protections or companies to self-regulate. They also discuss the interplay between privacy and competition, exploring how dominant tech companies leverage monopolistic control over browsers, operating systems, and ad ecosystems to stifle innovation and consumer choice.

The episode cexplores concerns, including cashless societies, financial privacy, and AI-powered content creation. Luke explains the importance of digital tools that preserve the anonymity of cash in a digital environment, warn and warnsst the risks of hyper-centralized financial systems. He also reflects on how AI disrupts privacy, advertising, and content integrity, underscoring the need for better tooling and ethical governance to address emerging challenges.

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In episode 222 of “The Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast, Debbie Reynolds talks to Marijan Bračić, co-founder and CEO of Legit, based in Croatia. Marijan shares the story of his unexpected journey into data privacy, which began at a 2017 conference session on GDPR. With a background in data management, Marijan identified the challenges enterprises face in meeting privacy regulations, which inspired the creation of Legit’s flagship product, Data Privacy Manager.

The discussion highlights the difficulties organizations experience in transitioning from paper-based compliance to operational privacy programs. Marijan emphasizes the importance of effective data handling practices and explains how Data Privacy Manager uses AI-powered tools and a modular design to address challenges such as personal data discovery, classification, and removal. He discusses the complexities of data deletion and retention, particularly for unstructured data, and how Legit’s solutions provide efficient and accurate processes to manage these issues.

The conversation also covers the impact of artificial intelligence on data privacy and the importance of strong governance and ethical practices. Marijan voices concerns about regulatory inefficiencies and advocates for treating personal data with the care one would reserve for their children’s information. He shares Legit’s efforts to expand into the Middle East, where the adoption of privacy technology is progressing quickly.

Marijan shares his perspectives, including his vision for a world where privacy is upheld as a fundamental human right, his company's role in advancing global data privacy standards, and his wish for privacy in the future.

https://legit.eu/

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