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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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Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks to Matthew Rosenquist, Mercury Risk's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), cybersecurity strategist, and LinkedIn Top Voice. With over 35 years of experience, Matthew shares his dynamic career journey, which started with internal investigations, building Intel’s first Security Operations Center, and leading crisis response teams. His extensive background includes advising governments, businesses, and academia on emerging threats and cybersecurity best practices.

Matthew highlights the critical evolution of cybersecurity from a “nice-to-have” to a mission-critical business necessity while discussing how rising consumer and regulatory expectations are reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. He explains the growing gap between mounting security demands and available resources, emphasizing that cybersecurity leaders must demonstrate value beyond risk prevention. Matthew advocates for evolving cybersecurity’s role from compliance-focused operations to strategic business enablers that deliver competitive advantages and even revenue opportunities.


The conversation explores the interconnectedness of privacy and cybersecurity, framing both as foundational to digital trust. Matthew emphasizes that privacy failures and cybersecurity breaches undermine trust with customers, regulators, and business partners, making collaboration between cybersecurity and privacy professionals essential. He also illuminates the importance of proactivity in cybersecurity, contrasting it with the reactive “firefighting” mindset often seen in organizations.


Matthew goes into the threat of insider risks, distinguishing between malicious insiders and non-malicious actors who unintentionally create vulnerabilities. Drawing from his experience, he underscores the need for strong leadership, clear policies, and an organizational culture where employees feel empowered to report issues without fear. Looking to the future, he stresses the importance of having cybersecurity expertise on boards of directors, enabling organizations to navigate rising risks and better align cybersecurity initiatives with business objectives.


As the discussion concludes, Matthew shares his wish for the cybersecurity industry: improved communication, collaboration, and leadership. He calls for greater strategic thinking, proactive risk management, and a collective effort to stay ahead of evolving threats in an increasingly complex digital world. He also highlights his hope for Cybersecurity and Data Privacy in the future.

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Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva” talks to Michelle Trong Perrin-Steinberg, SAP's Chief Legal Counsel for Export Controls and Sanctions for North and South America. Michelle shares her inspiring and unique career journey, including roles in government contracting, aerospace and defense, higher education, law firms, and consulting, before transitioning to her current tech industry role. Her wealth of experience gives her a unique perspective on the intersection of export controls, privacy, and emerging technologies.

Debbie and Michelle explore the evolving nature of export controls, particularly in the digital age, where data flows and cross-border transfers have added new layers of complexity. Michelle explains how export controls, once focused largely on physical goods, now encompass digital data, renderings, and server-to-server flows. She highlights the challenges businesses face in complying with ever-changing geopolitical regulations, especially with the rise of AI and emerging technologies. The conversation also touches on the direct connection between export controls and privacy, such as the recent U.S. executive order prohibiting data brokers from transferring sensitive American data to countries of concern.
Michelle emphasizes the need for clear regulations, global collaboration, and practical safeguards to help companies comply while protecting data privacy. She discusses the parallels between export controls and privacy laws, including the importance of tracking data lineage, securing consent for sensitive information, and implementing proper access controls. As technology evolves rapidly, Michelle stresses the importance of creating robust systems to safeguard data while remaining adaptable to constant changes and shares her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Additionally, Michelle introduces her new book, Kindly Michelle, which shares her journey, lessons learned, and insights for young professionals navigating their careers. She encourages listeners to embrace their authentic selves, develop a strong personal brand, and prioritize kindness and authenticity when building professional connections.

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Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” talks to Robert Bateman, Owner of KnowData Ltd in the United Kingdom, for an in-depth discussion on the evolving complexities of data privacy regulations worldwide. Robert begins by sharing his privacy journey, starting during his law studies when he began analyzing the GDPR and CCPA. His experience writing extensively about these topics laid the foundation for his role as a leading voice in the privacy community.

The conversation highlights the unique challenges of the U.S. privacy landscape, where fragmented state laws and federal legislative debates create an unpredictable regulatory environment. Robert and Debbie also tackle the intricacies of international data transfers, particularly the tension between the EU and the U.S., as seen in the Uber fine controversy. They explore the confusing regulatory landscape caused by conflicting interpretations of data transfer mechanisms and the far-reaching implications for businesses.

Additionally, the discussion goes into the influence of global standards organizations such as IEEE, ISO, and NIST on shaping privacy and safety frameworks. Robert and Debbie discuss how emerging technologies like AI further complicate privacy matters and stress the importance of responsible AI decision-making, emphasizing the need to retain human oversight in critical processes.

Looking toward the future, Robert advocates for formally recognizing privacy as a fundamental human right globally. He highlights the progress as businesses increasingly take privacy compliance seriously, even amidst the challenges. Debbie adds her insights on the evolving regulatory landscape, predicting heightened activity and complexity in privacy law as new technologies and regulations emerge. Robert shares his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

Many thanks to the Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast Privacy Visionary, Smartbox AI, for sponsoring this episode and supporting our podcast. Smartbox.ai, named British AI Company of the Year, provides cutting-edge AI. For more information about Smartbox AI, visit their website at https://www.smartbox.ai. Enjoy the show

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Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks Thomas Morrow, Ex NASA, Attorney, Technology Expert. Debbie and Thomas discuss the critical intersection of data privacy, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies. Thomas shares his fascinating journey from working on aerospace innovations at Boeing to contributing to NASA’s International Space Station program, where he navigated secure communications and data privacy challenges. This experience laid the groundwork for his deep understanding of how technological advancements and privacy protections must coexist.

Thomas explains how NASA’s approach to astronaut data—disclosing what data is collected, how it is used, and potential risks—provides a model for how data privacy could work in a consumer context. He and Debbie explore how transparency, ethics, and consent can build trust in a data-driven world. The conversation touches on the double-edged nature of technology, particularly AI, which has the power to drive significant innovation, such as better weather prediction and disaster preparedness, but also poses risks like deepfakes, misuse of personal data, and privacy erosion.

The discussion highlights pressing issues such as the need for global standards in data protection, AI ethics, and authentication processes to verify the authenticity of communications. Thomas emphasizes balancing innovation with accountability, stressing that regulation is essential to ensure technology serves society positively rather than being exploited for unethical gains. He and Debbie also share their thoughts on building digital trust through novel personal authentication systems, drawing parallels to encryption and hashing methods to secure identity and communications in an increasingly digital world.

Thomas advocates for a collaborative, international approach to regulation and ethical AI development. He underscores the need to think long-term, projecting into the future to address challenges before they become unmanageable. Forward-looking conferences like Ecosystem 2030 champion this mindset, and Thomas shares his hope for Data Privacy in the future.

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Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks to Flo Nicolas, J.D., Chief Impact and Community Engagement Officer, ARMI - ReGen Valley Tech Hub. We discuss shared insights about her career transition from law to technology. Flo discusses her challenges in navigating government contracts and emphasizes the importance of mentorship in her professional growth. The conversation touches on the mental health impacts of corporate life and the necessity of taking risks and learning from failures, highlighting the value of community engagement and personal branding in fostering professional development.

The discussion also addresses pressing data privacy issues and the implications of emerging technologies, particularly for children. Flo expressed her concerns about the dangers of deepfake technology, sharing a cautionary tale that underscored the need for early education on online safety. We acknowledge the alarming trend of diminishing privacy rights in the face of advancing technology, with Flo noting that many individuals are desensitized to privacy notifications. We agreed on the importance of simplifying privacy information to empower users, especially diverse groups like students and small businesses, to better navigate complex privacy settings.

Additionally, we examine the dual nature of artificial intelligence, recognizing its benefits while addressing significant risks such as algorithmic bias and the need for human oversight in AI decision-making. We raise concerns about the effectiveness of current regulations and the necessity for companies to comply with ethical guidelines. The conversation concluded with Flo advocating for increased investment in critical technologies, emphasizing the importance of oversight to mitigate risks like data breaches. She also mentioned her new role, which involves developing a data analytics dashboard, highlighting the need for a supportive team to assist in this endeavor and her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

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