Most personal data collection in Russia remains in a grey area, and its use by platforms and government institutions is not regulated at all. This was stated by Natalia Kaspersky, head of the InfoWatch group of companies, in an interview «Известиям».
In her words, the lack of proper regulation in this area leads to abuses and improper use of data, as well as risks of discrimination against citizens by a wide range of characteristics:
“If we do not stop the indiscriminate collection of personal data, digital Fukushimas await us.”
Going forward, the question of how personal data is used will become even more important, as data about people continue to accumulate, she says.
“More and more data about individuals ends up in the hands of government bodies and private players; there is more sharing of this data, and the reach of all aspects of private life is continually increasing. We are moving toward total control,” said Kaspersky.
She also criticised the widespread use of facial-recognition cameras. In Kaspersky’s view, the technology should be used only in certain cases:
“They can identify everyone, all the time, so data about our routes, acquaintances, connections, and habits, linked to full name and address, end up in the hands of the city authorities and the traffic police. This is unacceptable and must be prohibited by law. Protecting citizens by the state should consist of that.”
Kaspersky argues that to protect Russians’ personal data, the country should pass the “law on digital identity of citizens, the law on the right to identity secrecy, and the law on the circulation of user data”.
For details on how attackers gain access to personal data and who buys it, read ForkLog’s exclusive.
How the black data market works: who sells, who buys, and can you protect yourself?
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