Don’t confuse data protection with data literacy

There are numerous clichés about info, from referring to it as the new oil to the assertion that we’re blind and deaf devoid of it. But even with the buzzwords, these statements have an aspect of real truth to them: the contemporary planet generates and consumes additional info than at any other position in history, and comprehension how to acquire and use it is critical.

A panel of info experts – Simon Ratcliffe of Ensono, Suzy Gallier of overall health info investigate hub Pioneer, and Jane Offer of The Legislation Culture – arrived alongside one another to explore the topic of info-readiness at Computing‘s IT Leaders Forum last month. All agreed that good quality and transparency of info are important, but comprehension info is even additional so.

1 of the ideal methods to advertise info literacy is by way of storytelling: a position all three panellists agreed on. Offer stated she employed this in a past purpose, at the Royal Nationwide Institute of Blind People today, to train men and women about info protection.

“We selected a man or woman in fundraising who was a little bit of a live wire and a fantastic storyteller to produce an posting. Instead of ‘What you want to know about info protection’ he titled it ‘Are you the weakest hyperlink?’, wrote a story and produced it authentic for men and women. People today had been effectively by way of the posting right before they realised they had been being talked to about info protection.”

Ratcliffe also agreed, referring back to this answer when dealing with an audience concern about the GDPR:

“Data literacy isn’t all about just being info, info, info… There wants to be a degree of consciousness in there. I am a large believer in the notion of storytelling, and if you will not use the term info in a story that is even greater, since suddenly men and women are imagining about it in a context that helps make perception to them.

“The problem with info is it really is become a headline, substantially like GDPR grew to become a headline, and basically the right story lies underneath that. Relatively like info protection – and I feel info literacy is the exact same – it really is about not only comprehension the worth of info, but also comprehension what is actually not important in there. Not all info is equivalent… We want to understand to consider a pragmatic perspective of it.”

Gallier stated that storytelling had assisted Pioneer in a related vogue.

“It is really about earning [info] contextual for the particular person, so there are various tales and video clips, and we have actors taking part in out scenes of someone inquiring for a distinct piece of info in a medical setting, so it helps make men and women see how these items can easily take place if you are not imagining about it. As a medical center we consider that quite critically.”

Nonetheless, there have to be a stability involving info protection and info use. Safeguarding info, specially in a healthcare setting, is unbelievably important, but you are unable to merely lock everything down and phone it fantastic. “I have come throughout organisations wherever very little can go anywhere,” stated Ratcliffe. Gallier expanded on his position:

“The full position is that if we will not get [info literacy] appropriate and we will not basically empower accessibility and make that info discoverable, we’re not likely to have the following whole lot of innovation we’re not likely to have the following transformation… Similarly, it really is usually about that stability: what are we basically authorized to do, and what degree of info are we able to present?”

To sum up: info literacy is certainly important, but so is info protection. Use storytelling to understand both, and will not enable a single stand in the way of the other.

All of the classes from the most recent IT Leaders Forum, covering all aspects of info readiness and use, are now available to enjoy on-desire.