The discovery that Facebook gave unauthorized access to personally identifiable information (PII) of more than 87 million unsuspecting users to Cambridge Analytica (CA) has ignited the debate over technology’s societal impact and risks vis-a-vis data privacy. National governments seem to lack the ability to anticipate technology’s impact on the rights of citizens, much less its impact on the structure of society, ideological divides, and political schisms.
In this article, Jim Isaak and Mina J. Hanna review how CA was able to gain access to PII, and provide principles for a comprehensive data privacy policy as well as a review of what’s currently under consideration.
It has never been more imperative for technologists, researchers, and innovators to take heed of the debate and contribute meaningfully to the development of the policies as they take shape.