Why ‘doing’ data protection doesn’t work – we need to live it

We are all immersed in a world that is increasingly fuelled by data. But there is an growing disconnect between those that build, control and benefit from the technology and the individuals whose personal information sits at its heart. Data has the power to change people’s lives, influence elections and make or break businesses. But the law is only ever going to be one of a myriad of factors influencing people’s behaviour and attitudes and the speed of technological advancement means that law will always be playing catch up. Enforcement and big fines matter to raise awareness, punish and deter poor compliance but the harm is almost always already done and data harms are real. How can we reframe and broaden the conversation to ensure we embed the protection of data into everything we do, retaining the human qualities and freedoms we all too often take for granted both in our professional as well as our personal lives?