Our private information is worth more than gold to various businesses in this day and age thanks to the proliferation of digital technology, which has fueled an industry worth several billions of dollars. The hitch is that we do have rights to our data, and laws such as the DPDPB protect us from infringement on those rights. However, when we delve deeper into the actual process of erasing data, it becomes abundantly evident that the procedure is hardly a walk in the park. Let’s delve deeper into this topic of taming the Wild World of Data Brokers and how to retrieve our personal information from data brokers.
The Data Broker Bonanza
Our private information has become a valuable asset for businesses, and those who broker this information are making a killing off of it. Because they have access to enormous stores of sensitive information, individuals must have the option to opt out of having their data collected. Data privacy is becoming an increasingly pressing issue, but the shadowy world of data brokers is still mostly unknown to the general public, according to Gaurav Mehta, one of the co-founders of Councur. The more data they collect, the more urgent it becomes for us to opt out of participating in this data harvest.
The DPDPB Bill – A Beacon of Hope
Enter the DPDPB bill – our savior in the data wilderness! It grants us the right to have our data removed and puts data brokers on notice. But hang on, it’s not all smooth sailing from here. Concur decided to test the waters and reached out to 4 data brokers, all established players in the market, to disclose our data. Shockingly, 100% of companies didn’t even bother to reply! Not the best start, right?
The Data Broker Dance – Tedious and Tricky
It’s possible that data brokers won’t be eager to comply, and even when they do, they’ll likely make a big production out of it. Some even need us to provide a copy of our personal identification or fill out forms in order to reveal our own information! And here’s something else to chew on: out of the top ten data brokers, only five of them responded within a month. It’s possible that after waiting nearly two weeks for a response, you might forget that you wrote that email in the first place.
The fight isn’t over when it gets to that point! An agony that lasted for a whole month consisted of either requesting a summary of the data that they had about us or confirming that they did not hold any of our data. And would you believe it? Attempting to opt out of each individual firm is like chasing after a flock of wild geese. Because there are so many data brokers operating in the world, removing our information from circulation is not a simple operation.
DPDPB: Our Ray of Hope
The DPDPB bill shines like a guiding beacon in the face of the reality of data erasure that we are currently facing. It allows us to take back control of the situation and places the authority squarely in our grasp. The passage of this measure will require data brokers to adhere to certain regulations, which will result in a data landscape that is more open and centered on the needs of end users. It is time for us to take control and ensure that our personal data continues to belong to us, regardless of how complicated the data broker maze may get.
About Concur – Harmonizing Data Compliance
Concur is a technology company that provides a suite of enterprise solutions to help organizations manage their data compliance and other business operations. Our solutions include consent management, digital policy management, legacy customer notice guidelines, data principal rights solutions, and more. With a focus on innovation and the use of blockchain technology, Concur helps enterprises to stay compliant with various regulations such as DPDPB, while streamlining their operations and enhancing overall efficiency. Additionally, they offer dedicated support through their Support Center to ensure customers have the assistance they need to achieve their compliance goals.