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As a data scientist, you understand the power of data. But what is also quite mind-blowing is how many of us are unaware of how much data people unknowingly leave online. This is what we call the digital shadow. From background information, to metadata and your browsing history, these are all forms of digital shadows.
As a data scientist, you are aware of how data is collected, analysed and used in the majority of decision-making processes. However, you are also aware of how data can be potentially misused. Therefore, reducing one’s data footprint is key to protecting personal and professional privacy.
Why Is This Important?
Companies are collecting data from everywhere. Social media, online purchases, web browsing apps. It seems like you can’t do much these days without somebody collecting some form of data from you. Although these are part of our day-to-day lives, it is important to understand how these data points can reveal much about a person and can be used in a harmful way.
Now take it from your perspective as a data scientist, somebody who deals with data day in and day out. Data scientists can typically leave larger digital shadows, for example through code snippets, online forums, publicly shared repositories and more.
Within seconds, you could face identity theft, data misuse, the list goes on and on.
The exposing of sensitive data could lead to potential data breaches and privacy regulations such as GDPR.
I think you get where I’m going here, right?
How Do I Reduce My Digital Shadow?
As a data scientist, you’re probably sitting there scratching your head wondering how to reduce my digital shadow when scoping for data is my job.
I know it sounds a bit weird but it is not impossible.
Here are some steps you can take:
- Managing permissions: Ensure you are managing your permissions when you are collecting data or using different apps, for example, you could limit these permissions or clear your browsing history.
- Best practises: Continuously advise other data scientists as well as yourself to secure data and avoid sharing sensitive data online.
Privacy Protection Services
Some of you may be thinking that implementing privacy protection services may be a step too far. However, as mentioned prior the amount of digital shadow lingering around could lead to potential data breaches and privacy regulations for your organisations.
Better to be safe than sorry.
For example, organisations such as Incogni offer services that can help you manage and limit your data exposure by identifying and reducing data collection by third parties. Incogni is a personal data removal service where it automatically removes personal information related to you from public websites and private databases.
Simple, but how does it work?
The system regularly sends requests to data brokers on your behalf and will personally ask data brokers to add your profile to their suppression lists to make sure your name is never listed again.
Yes, as simple as that.
Wrapping Up
As a data scientist, one of your responsibilities is to value privacy, whether that is personal or for an organisation. To ensure you never get hit with a GDPR issue, online fraud or cybercrime, using tools such as Incogni can protect you and restore your peace of mind.
Nisha Arya is a data scientist, freelance technical writer, and an editor and community manager for KDnuggets. She is particularly interested in providing data science career advice or tutorials and theory-based knowledge around data science. Nisha covers a wide range of topics and wishes to explore the different ways artificial intelligence can benefit the longevity of human life. A keen learner, Nisha seeks to broaden her tech knowledge and writing skills, while helping guide others.
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