User Experience and Data Privacy

🔐 Designing For Privacy UX. Privacy isn’t about hiding something, but protecting user’s personal space. UX guidelines on how to design more respectful, private experiences that drive long-term loyalty ↓ 🤔 When data requests feel intrusive, users enter fake data or give in. ✅ Privacy is about user’s control of what happens to their data. ✅ Privacy by default: features should work with min data required. 🚫 Don’t ask for permissions that you don’t need at the moment. ✅ Right to be forgotten → allow users to delete data in settings. ✅ Data portability → allow users to take their data with them. ✅ Hidden Unsub links downgrade email reach (marked as spam). ✅ Neutral choices → give people real choices with neutral defaults. ✅ Data you don't ask for is the data you can't lose in a breach. ✅ Explain then ask → if you need user’s data, first explain why. ✅ Try before commit → show and explain value before asking for data. ✅ Remind me later → give people time to make a decision on their terms. ✅ Contextual consent → ask for data only when user’s action needs it. ✅ Automated data decay → delete user's data not used after X months. --- In many companies, privacy is treated as a technical hurdle to be cleared off. Companies thrive on user’s data for personalization, customized offers, better AI models — but also invasive targeting, ultra-precise tracking, behavioral predictions and eventually reselling data to the highest bidder. All of it isn’t only invasive and undermines trust — it also makes for slow experiences and advertising following you everywhere you go. Predictive models know a person is pregnant based on their browsing habits before they do. And once they do, ads, offers and messages will follow you everywhere you go — before your closest relatives hear it from you. When we speak about privacy, we often assume that that’s an exaggerated problem that doesn’t really affect us much. After all, we have nothing to hide, and so there is no harm in companies knowing a few things about us. But privacy isn’t about hiding something. It’s about protecting your personal space from external influence and manipulation. It’s about protecting your personal decisions and your intimate experiences, and having a choice to share them with people you trust and care of. Most people wouldn’t feel comfortable being observed by a camera during their work or during their spare time. Yet as we move from one page to the next, that’s exactly what happens, often without our consent. And just like web performance and accessibility, privacy is a part of user's experience. The good news is that European Commission is looking into modifying the way GDPR works. So users could tick a box in browser preferences, with privacy settings turned on by default. And then websites shouldn't be allowed to ask for consent because it's already not granted. I'm looking forward to that future. I’ve also put together a few practical books and useful resources in the comments below ↓

I used Google Forms for my bachelor’s research. And now I realize I shouldn’t have. Not because I was careless, but because I didn’t know better. None of us did. In India, almost every psych or social work student I knew used Google Forms. It was free, easy, and accessible. We thought we were doing it right. But once I started my master’s in Germany, I noticed something strange: No one here uses Google Forms. Not even for tiny surveys. Why? Google stores form responses on servers mostly located in the U.S, meaning researchers outside the U.S have little control over where their participants’ data goes or how it’s protected. When you’re collecting personal or sensitive information, this lack of control becomes a serious ethical and sometimes legal concern. That hit me hard. Back then, people trusted me with their stories. And I unknowingly put that trust at risk. I’m not sharing this to blame anyone. I’m sharing it because we’re often not taught what ethical research actually looks like. So here’s what I wish someone had told me earlier: If you’re collecting data from people, especially in psychology or social work, privacy is not optional. There are a few alternatives available: 🔹 Zoho Survey: Free, Indian company, better data protection. 🔹 LimeSurvey: Open-source, widely used in academia. 🔹 Nextcloud Forms: Privacy-first, great if your institution supports it. 🔹SurveySparrow : Also based in India. Good if you're not collecting highly sensitive data. 🔹Jotform: If you want a form builder that feels like Google Forms but with more control. Just double check where the data is stored. And if you must use Google Forms: • Be transparent: Let the participant know where their data would be stored • Avoid collecting sensitive info • Download and delete data from the platform ASAP Research is not just about responses. It’s also about respecting the people who respond. If you’re a student reading this, I hope this helps you to take one step closer to doing research that’s not just smart, but safe.

Trust is the real bottleneck to AI impact, not GPUs or models. I went through the SAS Data and AI Impact Report. It is one of the clearest looks at what actually drives outcomes in the enterprise. Here is the short version. You can also find the complete report here – https://lnkd.in/d7XfVKNM What the report highlights • Generative AI usage is up, and agentic AI is rising, but traditional ML still underpins real production work. • Most teams say they “trust” AI, yet many lack the governance, explainability, and monitoring needed to prove it. That gap lowers ROI. • ROI improves when goals are value focused. Customer experience, growth, resilience, and time to value outperform pure cost cutting. • The biggest blockers are weak data foundations, inconsistent governance, and skills gaps. • Maturity varies by industry, but leaders share the same pattern. Centralized data, accountable governance, and an end to end AI lifecycle. Why this helps enterprises • It gives a benchmark. Use trust and impact indices to see where you stand and where to invest next. • It links trust to hard results. Governance is not a checkbox. It is how you improve returns and reduce surprises. • It focuses on foundations. Good data, clear policy, and lifecycle oversight beat ad hoc pilots. My take • Move from “save cost” to “create value.” Prioritize customer experience, decision speed, and new revenue paths. • Treat trust like an operating system. Build a reusable layer for governance, explainability, bias testing, evaluation, and monitoring. Use it across all use cases. • Prepare for agentic AI with data work first. Consolidate data, define permissions, and track lineage. Agents will only be as good as the operating environment you give them. • Invest in skills. Teach builders evaluation and safety. Teach business teams how to measure decision quality. • Start small, measure fast, scale what works. Make ROI reviews a habit, not a milestone. Why this matters now AI has moved from pilots to core workflows. If trust lags, risk scales faster than value. If trust leads, value compounds. This report offers a practical map for leaders to shift from enthusiasm to impact. If you lead data or AI in your company, block time with your team this week. Align on foundations, governance, and near term value. Then execute. #data #ai #agenticai #sas #theravitshow

DPDP won’t hurt you because it’s strict. It will hurt you because your assumptions are wrong. The DPDP Act isn’t difficult because the law is complex. It’s difficult because many CXOs are approaching it with the wrong assumptions. Here are the 5 biggest mistakes CXOs are making with DPDP and how to avoid them. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #𝟭 Treating DPDP like a compliance project instead of a business transformation DPDP changes how organisations collect, store, process, and monetise data. It demands a shift in how leaders think about trust, governance, and customer experience. Smart organisations are using this moment to strengthen privacy as a competitive differentiator. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #2 Jumping into tools before doing data mapping Before buying consent platforms or automation tools, ask: Do we truly know where all our personal data lives? Data visibility is the foundation. Without it, no solution, however advanced, can deliver meaningful compliance. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #3 Delegating DPDP entirely to IT or legal DPDP demands organizational accountability. Boards will question CXOs directly on: > Do we have a consent framework? > Are vendors compliant? > Are breach-readiness drills done? Leadership needs to own DPDP, not outsource it. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #4 Underestimating vendor and third-party risk Most DPDP failures will occur through marketing partners, SaaS tools, analytics vendors, outsourced developers, cloud services. DPDP holds you, the Data Fiduciary, responsible, not the vendor. A strong privacy program = strong third-party governance. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #5 Assuming there is “plenty of time” There isn’t. Consent flows, deletion workflows, log retention, breach-notification plans, vendor contracts, all require months of preparation. Early movers will convert privacy into trust advantage. For organisations looking to do more than “just comply”, we’ve invested deeply in privacy-by-design solutions at Seqrite, covering data discovery, governance, breach-readiness, and fraud-prevention layers. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Bring privacy to the forefront of your business, not just your compliance checklist. If you’re a CXO preparing your DPDP roadmap, I’m always happy to share what we’re building and how it can accelerate your journey. DPDP won’t reward the perfect, it will reward the proactive leadership. The CXOs who elevate privacy to the boardroom will lead the next decade of digital trust. Seqrite Quick Heal Dr. Lalit Mohan Sanagavarapu #DPDP #DataPrivacy #PrivacyByDesign #CyberSecurity #DigitalTrust #ComplianceLeadership #EnterpriseSecurity #Seqrite #SeqriteLabs #QuickHeal #DataGovernance #FraudPrevention

Data privacy isn't just compliance – it's about winning trust. 1. Understanding the Basics: In our recent campaign, we delved deep into understanding not just the regulatory aspects of data privacy but also the consumer sentiment. Recognizing that with great data comes great responsibility, we adapted our campaign strategies to be proactive rather than reactive. 2. Transparent Communications: Clear communication is the bedrock of trust. We ensured that every user was well-informed about how their data was being used. This approach not only made our campaign transparent but also helped in building a trusting relationship with our audience. 3. Tailored Solutions: Using cutting-edge technology and tools, we implemented personalized privacy settings. Giving users control over their data empowered them and demonstrated our commitment to keeping their best interests at heart. 4. Continuous Learning: The digital landscape is ever-evolving, and so are the challenges associated with data privacy. We've taken our recent campaign as a learning opportunity, refining our practices, and ensuring that we're always at the forefront of data protection. In our journey towards creating compelling campaigns, it's become evident that addressing data privacy is paramount. It's not just about adhering to rules, but about creating a foundation of trust and transparency. #DataPrivacyMatters #CampaignTrust #DigitalResponsibility

The trust economy is replacing the attention economy.✅ Marketers have long treated data as their superpower- the more you collect, the sharper your targeting. But as privacy laws evolve, that mindset is hitting a wall. New regulations are redrawing the boundaries of what’s fair, ethical, and legal in data use. Hyper-personalisation still matters. It drives relevance, loyalty, and conversion. Yet creating these experiences while respecting privacy has become the new balancing act. The line between helpful and invasive is thinner than ever. The smartest brands are already adapting. They’re moving from surveillance to service - collecting less, but using it better. They’re making consent experiences simple, data use transparent, and value exchange visible. Instead of chasing clicks, they’re building credibility. Here’s what that looks like in practice: 👉🏻 Audit every data point you collect. If it doesn’t add clear value to the customer, drop it. 👉🏻 Be upfront about how and why you use data. Transparency builds confidence. 👉🏻 Trade access for value - early previews, useful insights, or improved recommendations. Privacy is no longer just about compliance. It’s the foundation of modern marketing trust. The brands that will thrive aren’t those who know the most about their customers but those whose customers choose to share more with them. #futureofmarketing

Everyone is racing to put AI on top of their GTM. Almost no one is checking what it's standing on. Here's the part teams skip: AI is only as trustworthy as the data layer beneath it. AI doesn't check your data. It acts on it. So when the layer is wrong, AI doesn't catch the mistake. It essentially scales the mistake. The good news is the data layer isn't a new tool you buy. It starts with the CRM you already have. Cleansing, connecting, routing, and governance are what turn that CRM into a layer AI can rely on. Four places that trust is won or lost: CRM foundation: Can my pipeline and demand gen data be trusted? Data quality: Duplicates and outdated data are the worst. Routing: Must be automated. Stewardship: Someone must own rules and governance. Get those right, and everything above the layer improves at once. The team at Traction Complete works on this data layer for a living, which is why I keep coming back to it. Do you agree? Are GTM teams moving too fast without addressing the data layer first? #marketing #martech #marketingoperations #ai PS: The team at Traction Complete just launched their new data agents for hygiene, routing, and more, check it out: https://lnkd.in/gZ_qY9Zg

Privacy by Design and Default are more than just buzzwords They're fundamental principles that can make or break trust with your users. Yet, many professionals still struggle to grasp their importance. Let me break it down using a timely example from Telegram Messenger: The Good: Privacy by Design Telegram gets it right when it comes to Privacy by Design. Their settings are a masterclass in giving users control, offering three privacy levels for most options: -Everybody - Contacts - Nobody This shows they’ve integrated privacy into the very fabric of their app, giving users the power to decide who sees what (in the design). The Miss: Privacy by Default But here’s where Telegram drops the ball—Privacy by Default. Despite offering granular privacy controls, all options are set to ‘Everybody’ by default. This is a major oversight. Why does this matter? Privacy by Default means that the most secure, private setting should be the default. Telegram should have set all options to ‘Nobody’ by default, allowing users to opt into less privacy if they choose. This approach not only protects users but also demonstrates a commitment to their privacy from the get-go. A Timely Reminder: The recent arrest of Telegram’s CEO highlights the importance of getting privacy right—it’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about safeguarding your users and the integrity of your platform. In an era where trust is easily lost, these principles are not optional; They are essential. Your Actionable Takeaways: Embed Privacy by Design: Start with privacy as a core principle, not an afterthought. Make it easy for users to control their data. Default to Safety: Always set the most private option as the default. This small step goes a long way in protecting users. Educate and Empower: Make sure your team understands these principles and can apply them. Privacy isn’t just the responsibility of the legal team—it’s everyone’s job. The Bottom Line: In today’s digital landscape, privacy is power. Build it into your product from the start. Always put your users first by defaulting to the most privacy friendly settings. This ensures compliance and also builds a foundation of trust that will set you apart. -----------  👋 I'm Jamal! I want to help you become a world-class privacy expert so you can have the thriving career you deserve. 🔔 Hit that bell for more inspiration, insights and tips. ♻ You've made it this far - so why don't you, repost to your network now so they can benefit too

"𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐱: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞" In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, building a reliable digital identity spine has become both more crucial and more challenging than ever. As privacy regulations tighten and third-party cookies crumble, businesses need to adapt their identity strategies. The key lies in building a flexible, privacy-first identity spine that can evolve with the changing tides of data protection. Here's how we can approach it: 👉 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕-𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒂: Shift focus to collecting and leveraging your own customer data with transparent consent. 👉 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒄𝒚-𝒆𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒆𝒔 (𝑷𝑬𝑻𝒔): Explore solutions like data clean rooms and federated learning. 👉 𝑨𝒅𝒐𝒑𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝑫 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: Consider privacy-compliant alternatives to third-party cookies. 👉 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆: Ensure your data practices are ethically sound and compliant with regulations like GDPR and CCPA. 👉 𝑬𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: Complement your identity-based strategies with context-driven approaches. 👉 𝑭𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔: Collaborate with trusted partners to enrich your identity graph while respecting privacy boundaries. Remember, building a digital identity spine isn't a one-time project—it's an ongoing process of adaptation and refinement. The goal is to create a system that's robust enough to withstand regulatory changes, yet flexible enough to evolve with technological advancements. As we navigate this complex landscape, one thing is clear: the future belongs to those who can balance the power of identity with the imperative of privacy. What strategies are you employing to future-proof your digital identity approach? #DigitalIdentity #DataPrivacy #MarTech #CustomerTechnology

When was the last time you actually read a privacy policy before clicking “accept”? Most consumers don’t. But they’re starting to care more than ever. Google searches for “data privacy” have jumped by 239% over the past decade. 56% of people say they wish they had more control over their personal data. And 87% of North Americans told McKinsey & Company they would not do business with a company they didn’t trust with it. It’s fascinating because privacy used to be a “backend” issue. Something IT or legal handled. Now, it’s shaping how consumers buy, how they engage, and how they feel about a brand. Apple’s “Sign in with Apple” wasn’t just a product feature, it was a branding move. It positioned them as the company that protects, not exploits, your data. And that shift is spreading fast. From CPG loyalty programs to retail media networks, the brands that thrive will be the ones that treat consumer data as an earned privilege, not a right. In FMCG, I’m watching this play out in subtle but important ways: – Consumers opting out of cookie-based personalization entirely. – Loyalty app downloads slowing unless there’s a clear value exchange. – PE-backed consumer brands realizing that data collection without transparency is a short-term play with long-term cost. Privacy is now a brand value. It signals respect. And it’s fast becoming a deciding factor in purchase decisions, sometimes even above convenience. 90% of consumers think governments and businesses should protect their data, but 70% don’t trust them to actually do it. That gap between responsibility and trust, is where leadership has to step in. If you’re leading a consumer brand today, your next competitive advantage might not come from a new SKU or pricing model, but from how transparently you handle data. Consumers are watching. And they’re voting with their clicks. What are you seeing in your category? Are consumers asking tougher questions about how their data is used? #FMCG #Consumerinsights #Consumerbehaviour #Trending