Q&A with our 4 Top Privacy Experts — Part 2

Author: Annabelle Baxter, Senior Manager, corporate affairs, Alliance Data

If you missed the first part of our Q&A, you can catch it here.

I recently sat down with Kellie Watts, corporate ethics officer for Alliance Data, Jeanette Fitzgerald, chief privacy officer for Epsilon, Lori Mininger, chief privacy officer for Alliance Data Retail Services, and Mitchell Merowitz, vice president, corporate affairs and chief privacy officer, LoyaltyOne, to get their unique perspectives on data privacy.

	Kellie Watts, Corporate Ethics Officer, Alliance Data: In her role as the top ethics officer for Alliance Data and its three businesses, Kellie Watts developed and oversees all aspects of the Company’s global corporate ethics policy, which has received one of the highest ratings by a leading ethics and compliance consulting firm against nearly 1500 ethics policies.
	Mitchell Merowitz, Vice President Corporate Affairs, LoyaltyOne: Mitchell Merowitz is responsible for the corporate reputation, global privacy practices, regulatory and legislative affairs of LoyaltyOne. As Chief Privacy Officer, Mitchell also oversees the company’s database governance and international consumer privacy and data protection policies.
	Lori Mininger, Senior Director, Chief Privacy Officer, Compliance, Alliance Data Retail Services: Responsible for Regulatory Program Compliance initiatives including Data Privacy, Fair & Responsible Banking, Fair Credit Reporting, and Anti-Money Laundering/Bank Secrecy, Lori is also a contributor to the IAPP publication ‘Building a Privacy Program: A Practitioner’s Guide.’
	Jeanette Fitzgerald, Chief Privacy Officer, Epsilon: As Chief Privacy Officer, Jeanette leads Epsilon’s government affairs, legislative and regulatory initiatives related to data protection and privacy. With her extensive knowledge of data privacy issues, she has spoken before domestic and international industry associations about the implications of data privacy for businesses and consumers, and has provided testimony before U.S. Congressional committees.

Question: What is the biggest misconception about data privacy?

Fitzgerald:  Perhaps the biggest misconception is that data privacy is one person’s or one department’s job.  While I have the title of Chief Privacy Officer, every employee at Epsilon understands that they also are privacy officers – on behalf of the company and of our clients.  The core of our business centers around the responsible collection and use of data – offering transparency, notice and choice to consumers – so safeguarding data is just an everyday part of the way we do business.

Mininger: Often times when one thinks about privacy he/she thinks of the negatives such as inappropriate surveillance, unwanted marketing communications and data breaches.  However, there are as many positives as there are negatives if information is used responsibly.  Responsible use of personal information can result in personalized and tailored experiences for the customer, enable better customer service and customer awareness of products and services that may be meaningful to them, as well as increase efficiency and convenience.

Merowitz: Privacy vs. Security. It is not an either or matter. Security or the use, protection and responsible destruction of data is an element of privacy.  There are generally 10 internationally-recognized privacy principles. Safeguards – or security – is just one of the 10 principles.

Question: What can consumers do to learn more about data privacy?

Merowitz: Be accountable. In 2011, LoyaltyOne released the results from a privacy study in which among other very notable facts, just 22% of U.S. and Canadian consumers said they always thoroughly read the terms and conditions of data collection and use policies, contracts and agreements. Slightly more, 30%, said they often thoroughly read such terms and 28% said they sometimes read the terms thoroughly. Consumers need to better understand, and take responsibility for, the information they choose to provide and with whom they share it, and understand and agree to what is being done with the data, how to access it, challenge its accuracy and the terms for its retention and destruction.

Mininger: There are numerous online resources for consumers. My personal favorite is staysafeonline.org.  Stay safe online has a section dedicated to breaking down the privacy settings for popular applications. This provides tremendous value for users who are not as tech-savvy.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also offers a number of resources for consumers at ftc.gov.

Fitzgerald:  As Lori mentioned, there are any number of government and non-profit organizations that offer information and advice about data privacy, but I also like to direct people  to the Consumer Knowledge Center on Epsilon.com.  We’ve spent considerable time developing resources for consumers, including an easy-to-understand guide related to marketing-related data privacy, FAQs, a glossary, and links to external resources as well.

Watts: As the Corporate Ethics Officer for Alliance Data, I’m acutely aware of the importance of maintaining the highest standards of data protection and proper data usage. As a consumer myself, that professional background means that I am vigilant and cautious before I download apps on my smart phone or tablet. I always make sure that the companies behind the apps I download are responsible users of data as well. Many consumers, who might be cautious about spam and avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails on their laptops, might not be aware that malware and viruses can also impact smartphones and tablets. Apps are one way hackers are getting access to mobile devices and their data, and protecting my data, at the end of the day, begins with me.