I recently took a trip to the United States to attend a Global Privacy Conference organized by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). More than 3,500 information technology, legal and security professionals from all over the world gathered to share and listen to different speakers on how privacy laws have impacted business, both in the private and public sector.
For business people, these changes will require a shift in the current ways companies handle the personal information of customers and employees. With these privacy laws, companies will have to work on increasing awareness among their employees of the value and importance of personal data. Once entrusted to controllers and processors, personal information are to be used, stored, and shared if necessary, only for a limited purpose.
Information awareness is key when it comes to understanding the things we need to do and the goals we need to meet. Performance is enhanced when we understand not only the “what” and the “how,” but more important, the “why” in the things we have to do. Fighting soldiers need to know why they are seizing a hill in relation to the overall mission of the unit. Law abiding citizens of any country ought to know the purpose of the laws they are supposed to follow. Responsible employees in any company need to know why they have to accomplish certain tasks. We cannot remain ignorant and simply accept goals, targets and missions in life without knowing the rationale behind them. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” In those civil rights days in the US, people who discriminated based on color because they were told to do so are being “conscientiously stupid.” We have to be more aware of the rationale and purpose behind our actions.
Similarly, whenever we process information we read in the Bible, we should also be more aware how and why they abide by His Word. We simply cannot blindly follow whatever our religious elders tell us. Both in our personal and professional lives, we function better if we know the reasons why we do what we do in life.
Allow me to share a story of a person who decided to dig deeper in faith because of his desire to be more aware of the reasons for his actions. His thorough study of the Bible has changed the way he handles and accepts Biblical information as he does his ministry work in California.
Ariel Torralba used to work for a distribution company for various retail industries, did some multilevel marketing, and performed consulting jobs for several Philippine and multinational companies whose products include Cadbury, Mentos and Johnnie Walker. Born and raised in a religious family in Naga City, Ariel had a good foundation in Catholic doctrines and earned a degree in a prominent Catholic school in Manila. When he recently migrated to California, Ariel had ample time to study the Bible. He gradually realized the need to truly understand the rationale behind each and every doctrine he learned from his parents, siblings, teachers, and the community in general.
In a span of two years, Ariel earned a masters’ degree in Christian Philosophy and Apologetics. He now reads and uses five different bibles, depending on his particular need. Armed with greater knowledge, he now understands the why in the things he has been doing all his life as a believer. He now has the ability to validate whatever information he absorbed while growing up. His faith discipline, Apologetics, has taught him not to accept concepts just because they were written in the Bible. Ariel understands that His Word, while filled with powerful yet complicated messages, has absolute truths that even the most knowledgeable man cannot comprehend.
In the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:20-21 tells us to guard what has been entrusted to our care. It specifically says, “Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.” In my short conversation with Ariel, the most fundamental principle of his faith is that there is a God. And that all of us are saved through faith and not by works. Nonetheless, every person still has to consent in a way that he truly and deeply accepts and practices His Word. I am elated to see my cousin Ariel Torralba in this light.
In the commercial world of data privacy, the overarching principle is consent. Any and all personal information must be freely given with the express and specific consent of the concerned individual. During that Global Privacy Conference, several speakers discussed issues and suggested different strategies to comply with all kinds of privacy laws. Complicated as they are, these privacy laws can be made simple through a series of seminars and conferences, just like how the IAPP did it in Washington, D.C. Ignorance or refusal to know more about privacy laws will result to severe financial and reputation damage when a data breach occurs. Data privacy is not as simple; but attending these conferences is one of many ways for compliance officers to equip themselves with sufficient knowledge about it.
I recently read in one post that we are one decision away from living a different life. And our actions must be deliberately done with an informed decision. It is up to us to make ourselves educated and knowledgeable by reading, asking and studying. Whether it is required by law or by Scripture, we all have to consciously exert efforts to know the why in what we do.