Data has surpassed oil as the world's most valuable resource.
The enormous amount of data that we generate every day has become the precondition for developing the goods and services that will play a decisive role in the economy of the future. Digital goods and services increasingly rely on the processing and transfer of consumer data.
Companies are buying, trading and selling consumer information for online advertising. Internet ad-clicking business models and smart connected devices are putting the consumers at greater risk of having their personal data compromised and exploited.
Internationally, there is no consensus in terms of optimal design of privacy rules that relate to the collection, maintenance, use, disclosure, and processing of personal information. The lack of privacy protection and the absence of any accountability structure undermine consumer trust online.
Consumer interest and protection do not have a major presence in the context of trade agreements. Trade negotiators making decisions on digital services and data need to hear from the most impacted people, the consumers.
What consumers need is a global standard of privacy and data protection norms. They need governments to align themselves to press a demand that companies take proactive steps and pledge to grant the highest standards of digital protection to all users and consumers regardless of jurisdiction. Privacy should be available by default, not on demand.
This panel will try to make the consumer voice heard and make it count by all those who make decisions that affect consumers.
Moderator:
-Dr. Burcu Kilic, Research Director, Public Citizen
Speakers:
-Ms. Léa Auffret, Trade team leader, European Consumer Organization (BEUC)
-Prof. Jane Kelsey, Law Professor, University of Auckland
-Ms. Vahini Naidu, Counsellor (Economic), South Africa Permanent Mission
-Mr. Francisco Vera Hott, Advocacy Officer, Privacy international
-Ms. Julie Dawson, Director of Regulatory & Policy, Yoti
-Mr. Sanjay Kumar Mangla, Fellow, CUTS
