- Privacy refers to an individual’s or organization’s right to keep personal or proprietary information from being disclosed without consent. Many nations view privacy as a fundamental human right. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights– Article 12)
- In cloud computing, privacy becomes a concern because personal data is stored on servers owned by cloud service providers (CSPs). Users can’t always rely on the CSP to guarantee privacy.
Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA):
- A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is a process used to identify privacy risks and assess how personal data is handled. While there are no international standards for PIA, some countries require PIA reports.
- The PIA process is essential for ensuring that privacy is embedded into the design of new systems or services. Instead of dealing with privacy issues after deployment, PIA encourages a proactive approach.
- PIA tools help organizations identify privacy issues in their systems.
- The tool typically uses a knowledge base (KB) maintained by experts to guide the process.
- Users input their project details and risks, and the system generates a PIA report that assesses the privacy risks, security, transparency, and cross-border data flows.
Why is PIA Important in Cloud Computing: (main aspects of privacy)
- Loss of Control: Once data is uploaded to a cloud server, users lose control over the exact location and sometimes even the access to their data. For instance, in services like Gmail, the user doesn’t control where emails are stored or how long they remain in backups.
- Unauthorized Secondary Use: CSPs may use data for purposes like targeted advertising without user consent.
- Data proliferation: Outsourcing data handling to third parties, especially when CSPs subcontract or merge with other companies, can complicate privacy control and lead to personal data spreading across multiple databases, increasing the risk of misuse.
- Dynamic Provisioning Risks: In cloud services, resources and services are often dynamically provisioned. Rights over data may become unclear during events like mergers or outsourcing.
- Compliance with Legal Requirements: Different countries have varying privacy laws and regulations. For example, in the EU, strict laws like the “right to be forgotten” exist, which may not align with practices in other regions. A PIA helps organizations understand and comply with both local and international laws.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Rules: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has set guidelines for businesses that collect personal information online.
These rules are based on four widely accepted fair information practices:
- Notice: Inform users about data collection practices, including what data is collected, how it’s used, and whether it will be shared with third parties.
- Choice: Provide users with options on how their data will be used, particularly for secondary purposes like marketing.
- Access: Allow users reasonable access to their data, including the ability to review, correct inaccuracies, or delete data.
- Security: Take appropriate steps to secure the collected data against unauthorized access.