Privacy is generally considered a fundamental right, with citizens often having high expectations for the protection of their personal information. Citizens protest when they fear that governments are increasing their involvement in their personal lives. However, they don't consider how much personal and sensitive data they share with any app they install on their smartphone or with smart devices in their homes.
Big tech companies and vendors of personal devices like wearables, smartphones and voice assistants collect personal details about their users – often much more than any healthcare provider or government agency. These devices record data about physical health (such as heart rate, sleep patterns and physical activity), mental well-being (through analysis of speech, facial expressions and online activity) and personal preferences, including what we search, buy or listen to. Voice assistants continuously learn from user interactions, creating profiles that can include details about routines, relationships, and even mood, inferred from tone of voice and language.
This data extends beyond what anyone could know doctor, gathering a digital 'fingerprint' of personal health and behaviour. For example, wearables record heart rate, stress levels and steps taken, creating a comprehensive record of the wearer's physical and mental state. Online platforms use sophisticated algorithms to understand users' interests and behaviors better than many friends or family members, mapping everything from shopping habits to political opinions.
These companies achieve such depth by aggregating data across devices, applications and digital environments. The information generated is not only intended to provide services, but is also used in targeted advertising and may be shared with third parties or government agencies under certain circumstances, sometimes without the users' explicit knowledge.
Apps need to ask for your consent and permissions to request sensors on your device, and usually users readily give it. While this data has enormous value for improving products and personalizing services, it raises significant privacy concerns because it operates largely unsupervised, allowing tech companies to wield unprecedented insight into the intimate details of billions of lives. .
In 2018, we learned about the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal. In short, a consultation company collected personal data from millions of users without their consent. The data was used to create psychological profiles of users, which were then leveraged to deliver targeted political ads. The main concern was the data monetization, ad profiling and targeted campaigns.
The debate has since escalated, and now revolves around homeland security, influence campaigns and spying by foreign governments.
Table of Contents
Privacy and Cultural Differences
A current public debate surrounds the data collection practices of popular social media and technology companies. Investigations have revealed that such apps collect extensive user data, including location, contacts and behavioral data, raising concerns about data security and potential access by foreign governments. While these companies refuse any illegal access, governments have imposed strict oversight measures to ensure that sensitive user information is not compromised. This has sparked action worldwide, as the countries prioritize data security for their citizens.
Smartphone and IoT device manufacturers from various regions are also under scrutiny. Concerns have been raised about the risk of foreign governments accessing user data through backdoors or other surveillance mechanisms. This issue is particularly evident in countries with different approaches to data privacy, especially in authoritarian regimes that prioritize state control over individual privacy. These practices have led to increased concerns about the potential misuse of devices for spying or surveillance.
How Governments Respond
Privacy laws in Western countries exemplify this commitment to protecting personal data, giving individuals control over their data and requiring companies to be transparent about their data collection and sharing practices. Such frameworks are influenced by cultural values that prioritize individual liberties and a deep-seated aversion to surveillance, especially in the private domain of one's home.
This divergence not only shapes local privacy standards, but also affects international relations and the global IoT market. Democracies are increasingly implementing policies to restrict foreign-made devices suspected of being vulnerable to government interference, fueling the broader geopolitical competition between open and closed data governance models.
As these cases demonstrate, the threat is not hypothetical. Governments around the world are actively grappling with the security and privacy implications of IoT devices, particularly from vendors with potential ties to government surveillance. In response, various regulatory and legal actions are underway:
-
Prohibitions and restrictions on high-risk suppliers: Select governments have taken action by banning specific foreign-made devices from critical infrastructure, particularly government buildings and other sensitive areas. This approach, although controversial, is considered a necessary step to reduce the risk of espionage.
-
Data protection and privacy laws: The European law GDPR and similar laws around the world are designed to give consumers more control over their data. These regulations require companies to provide clear consent options, disclose data usage, and allow users to manage the data collected from their devices. However, enforcing these laws on foreign companies remains a challenge. Therefore, in Europe, the Commission last month approved the new expanded Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which requires manufacturers to comply with both privacy and security requirements on any connected device, if they want to sell them on the European market.
-
Device security standards: Several countries have introduced laws that impose minimum security standards for devices used by government agencies. These laws encourage basic security measures, such as banning default passwords, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Looking Ahead: Protecting Privacy in a Smart Device-Based World
The incidents of privacy violations highlight the urgent need for stricter regulations and better consumer awareness of potential security threats. This story is not just about one family or one breach. It's a larger narrative about how the "smart" devices in our homes could, in the wrong hands, compromise our privacy and security. As governments, regulators and consumers begin to navigate this new reality, cooperation and vigilance will be key to preserving the sanctity of our private spaces.
To help secure this segment, Check Point Software introduced the Quantum IoT Protect Nano agent. Nanoagent is a solution for IoT device manufacturers to help them secure their devices and comply with privacy and security standards.
