... Google, Amazon Web Services set right data-ownership tone

HENRY OSBORNE, technical services manager at Contax 360 BPO Solutions, cited Google and Amazon Web Services as other platforms which set the right tone as it relates to personal data.

Amazon states in its terms and conditions that “other than the rights and interests expressly set forth in this agreement and excluding Amazon Properties and works derived from Amazon Properties, you reserve all right, title and interest (including all intellectual property and proprietary rights) in and to your content”.

Meanwhile, Google states: “Some of our services allow you to upload, submit, store, send or receive content. You retain ownership of any intellectual property rights that you hold in that content. In short, what belongs to you remains yours.”

Osborne pointed out that where the data is stored is also critical. However, since cloud providers typically store data in different locations, it might be difficult for users to determine where exactly or how many copies of their data providers retain.

“In fact, identifying the exact location of all your data in the cloud is a near-impossible feat,” Osborne said. “Only a few cloud providers allow users to choose which countries their data is stored in, although more providers are slowly catering to such needs.”

The location of your data subjects it to various changing national and international laws. Data held in the European Union (EU), for example, is subject to the Data Protection Law Enforcement Directive and the General Data Protection Regulation, to which companies transferring data in and out of the EU must conform. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights also stipulates that EU citizens have the right to the protection of their personal data.