Facebook’s breach of trust offers lessons on best use of data to build business
MARK Zuckerberg sat in the hot seat, being grilled in front of a global audience, putting the role and future of big data under the microscope.
This raised important questions around the leadership response to this issue.
It highlighted the intended and unintended impact on people and the importance of conscious leadership and individual responsibility.
We learnt a number of lessons from this highly publicised breach of trust.
The value of public accountability
Zuckerberg has been praised for taking accountability for the misuse of data and his commitment to rectify the situation.
His response was well prepared and carefully considered.
This was in stark contrast to his questioner’s poor understanding of the big data environment, its benefits, its consequence and the importance of defining privacy parameters before, rather than after, the event.
There was strong talk of the need to regulate Facebook.
This would address only the tip of the iceberg, rather than the substantial and unseen substance of the bigger picture that lies unseen below the waterline.
This is not a Facebook problem, but a universal one. There’s a shift to self-leadership and individual accountability.
Facebook has been widely criticised for its role in disseminating fake news, racially charged narratives and unverified content.
Zuckerberg admitted that was the case, despite Facebook’s content rules.
Not enough has been done to moderate and exclude this type of content.
Better use of artificial intelligence to monitor this is essential, as it is simply too big a job for human control.
It also raises the role of self-leadership in what we protect, post and forward.
We have the responsibility to fact-check before we post and engage in constructive dialogue that respects diverse views, cultures and beliefs.
Regulation is one response, but without a culture of individual responsibility, leaders will remain in crisis mode – dealing with, rather than preempting the consequences.
The need for a global framework
Europe has taken a more positive and proactive approach to regulation by introducing General Protection Data Regulation (GPDR).
This requires data protection to be built in at the design phase.
It takes into account the forecasting and mitigation of risk, transparency in communication, how data will be used and the requirement to secure permission.
Facebook has committed to embracing this as a global standard. However, regulation is only part of the solution – it needs to be coupled with a framework that includes processes, governance and leadership practices.
Blockchain is emerging as a potential solution that is set to revolutionise the way we make contact with each other.
It puts the control of data firmly into the hands of the owner of the data.
Consumers will be able to control what data they are willing to disclose for any given transaction or agreement.
Built into the framework should be a global code of ethics that agrees on both the governance of data and leadership practices to support the effective and positive use of data in the future world of work.
Data has enormous potential for building business and wealth – let’s get that right.