Data-driven innovation is possible without infringing on privacy

Stephen Deadman says for a start, complicated privacy policies must make way for a better design that helps people understand the choices and control they have over their information

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Red Cross volunteers receive donations for people affected by the powerful earthquake in Mexico earlier this month. Data can be used to coordinate disaster relief, among other uses. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:45am, 26 Sep 2017Updated: 7:15pm, 26 Sep 2017

Data is transforming our lives, creating huge opportunities to improve our societies, drive economic growth and empower individuals. Personal data enables us to do amazing things – from delivering personalised health care, to coordinating disaster relief and planning greener cities.

To seize these opportunities, we need to help people understand why and how their information is used and the choices and controls they have.

Facebook wants to support Hong Kong’s commitment to unlocking the potential of data. For the first time, we are hosting leading experts in Hong Kong for a workshop on “Building Impact with Data” where we’ll showcase some best practices and present a number of Facebook projects that are intended to create value for society from data, such as disaster maps. The workshop takes place during the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, which Hong Kong is hosting this week. The last time this gathering was held here was in 1999. Since then, technological innovation has led to previously unimaginable advances. People want to embrace these advances – but they also want control over their privacy.

Watch: How Facebook uses data to help communities to rebuild

Ensuring we achieve both the protection of privacy and enable innovation must be a priority. Earlier this year, we worked with the Progressive Policy Institute on a report that showed how, when privacy regulation is in harmony with economic and social policymaking, huge benefits are unlocked.

Innovation through personal data depends on people’s trust. And the most effective way to build and maintain trust is by creating effective transparency and giving people control over their data. That’s something we have to think hard about at Facebook. After all, Facebook can only thrive if people feel empowered to share, knowing they have choices about who sees what and that they can change their minds.

But building effective transparency and putting people in control of their data is not easy; it takes a lot of research into people’s needs and expectations, it requires innovation and experimentation, and necessitates an acknowledgement that there is no silver bullet.

Hong Kong youngsters not minding web privacy, survey finds

Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Stephen Wong, seen here at a book launch in July, took part in a round table last year on how to ensure data-driven innovation can thrive while building people’s trust. Photo: David Wong