EC thinking on privacy definitely on the move…

The European Commission (EC) and its partners hosted a conference on “Trust in the Information Society” in Spain 10-11 February where the winds of change became even more apparent.

This was a conference organised under the huge Framework Program 7 (FP 7) research stream funded by the European Commission. FP 7 has a very impressive research component on ICT Trust and Security Research under its ICT Challenge 1: Pervasive and Trustworthy Network and Service Infrastructures.  

Ahead of the Curve? Recent trans-Atlantic thinking on privacy that sounds familiar

At the risk of mixing metaphors, it seems that there is movement at the station, on both sides of the Atlantic, on the need for new thinking on how best to respect personal information about individuals and manage the risks to which they might be exposed as a consequence of its collection, use and disclosure.

Throughout 2009 as the word was getting around you could hear the horsemen gathering in the distance, now they can be seen gathering on the horizon.   

Cloud Computing Made Simple

Cloud computing has been a popular term for a year or two now, but many of us still don’t know what it is or its implications. To a degree, it is old wine in new bottles (hotmail has been around for over a decade now) but it is also so much more. 

This has led to some pretty slick selling of the concept without being entirely straight forward as to the impact on the interests of all stakeholders. In an article titled “Salesforce.com: Cloud Computing is a game-changer”, Peter Coffee is quoted as saying:

Empowering individuals to control their personal information

Here is a seriously interesting paper that came out of the UK a year ago: “Empowering individuals to control their personal information”.  It is a background paper presented to a conference on “Privacy by Design” which was all about providing a proactive approach to privacy protection.  It was held on 26 November 2008 and hosted by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office in Manchester.

When Less is More

Last week the Sydney Morning Herald published, “When the small print leaves us all at sea”, a very good article by Annette Sampson. It really got me going.

Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin: Leading Privacy Campaigners …

This is not a long blog.  I encourage you to read a longer article & possibly explore further from there.

E-security Awareness: When it comes to Personal Information, it’s Security AND Privacy ‘cos there is no trade-off

The experiences of handling (and losing) personal information have a lot to tell us about better security in any organisation. 

How often have you heard somebody argue that there has to be a trade off between security and privacy?

The argument usually runs something along the lines that in order to keep you secure, you have to give up some aspect of your privacy.  For example, you must exhibit a lot of evidence of identity before completing a transaction or joining a group or organisation.

Top 10 themes from RSA Security Conference as seen by iTnews

For all those Mac fans who think that they are immune from vulnerabilities, think again. 

Swinging pendulums: accountability, the Global Financial Crisis and prosecuting Google in Italy

As the political pendulum swings back towards more regulation of the markets, how do we stop it from swinging too far?

I am a free marketeer.  Within limits.

For over a decade, I worked in Department of Finance as a proud part of the micro-economic reform revolution wrought by the Hawke-Keating governments that contributed so much to economic growth in the subsequent decade.  As a member of the Management Improvement Advisory Committee of the government’s Management Advisory Board, I also led some of the teams introducing world class public management reform, seen by many in the OECD as an exemplar to be followed.

Red tape “threat to growth”?

It is a delight to introduce today the final report from the GAP Congress on Regulatory Affairs: "Opportunities for Business".

It is a delight to introduce today the final report from the GAP Congress on Regulatory Affairs: Opportunities for Business.

On 26 September 2008, it was my pleasure to chair the GAP Congress on Regulatory Affairs: Opportunities for Business, held at Victoria’s Parliament House in Melbourne.

A New Year’s Resolution? Don’t forget ID Management, Mutual Authentication and the ruthless power of social engineering!

May you all have a Happy New Year that is also safe online and offline and where you, not others, control what happens to the personal information about you and about what you are doing.

What a Year!

Thank you to all our members for a great year. Best wishes for a happy holiday, see you online in 2009!

Thank you to all our members for a great year. Best wishes for a happy holiday, see you online in 2009!

There’s something rejuvenating about reflecting upon the year that was and making plans for the year ahead. Taking a little time to re-read a few of my favourite posts from Open Forum in 2008 has left me feeling even more excited about 2009.