How we can ensure secure and sustainable data handling

Digitalisation Cybersecurity Digital self-determination Monday, 01. February 2016 07:15

"Information overload" and its underlying "data explosion" give rise to a wealth of questions: how is all of this data used? Who should it be made available to? What analysis should be permitted and what should not? What are our sustainability responsibilities, to ensure that the right data is archived and remains legible?

Numerous studies have shown that most people lack basic training in and sufficient understanding of the "digital data room", despite working within it on a daily basis.

Self-determination and democracy require critical examination

All citizens urgently need a minimum basic knowledge of the world of data in order to be able to recognise new connections, allowing them to act in a conscious, secure manner and understand the consequences of their actions.

Five areas where citizens must play an active role

1. Personal data management: what sustainable personal data management looks like.
2. Data archiving: what data can be archived and how.
3. Confidentiality and secrecy: why data encryption and access rights are key concepts for the protection of information.
4. Big data analytics: how fundamental statistical statements can be made using any data whatsoever.
5. Privacy is not a private matter: which concepts can be used to protect privacy.

Three areas where orientation are important but which are the responsibility of the state

6. Data and the general public: open government data ñ how public administration data files and information are (and can) be used by third parties.
7. The Achillesí heel of information technology in critical infrastructure: how the state can protect infrastructure, in particular critical infrastructure.
8. Crime in cyberspace: what dangers lie in wait in cyberspace.

How we can ensure secure and sustainable data handling: in German, in French

Editorial:

Beatrice Huber