Need to create "resistance" for users in protecting personal data

The exposure of personal data and the increase in online fraud have created an urgent need to improve users' information protection skills.

Dr. Pham Chien Thang believes that improving skills to protect personal data in cyberspace is necessary. (Photo: NVCC)

Vietnam is considered one of the countries that is quick to change and adapt to new trends. However, the situation of information disclosure on personal pages is becoming more and more common.

The World and Vietnam Newspaper had an interview with Dr. Pham Chien Thang, Head of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, University of Science - Thai Nguyen University regarding this issue.

What do you think about the current situation of personal information being leaked in the digital environment?

Personal information disclosure in today's digital environment is a serious problem and needs attention from many sides. Below are some issues about the current situation of personal information disclosure in cyberspace.

Large companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon collect user data on a massive scale to serve targeted advertising, optimize services, and analyze trends. This makes users' personal information no longer protected as before.

In addition, many businesses and organizations do not really pay attention to the security of users' personal information. This creates opportunities for hackers to take advantage.

In addition, legal regulations related to personal information security often lag behind technological developments, reducing the effectiveness of legal prosecution and prevention of violations.

In the development of science and technology today, modern algorithms can analyze and "guess" personal information based on seemingly harmless data. This also raises the issue of privacy of personal information.

A key issue is that the effects of exposed personal information can have serious social and psychological impacts, ranging from being scammed, to increased stress and anxiety.

On July 1, Decree No. 13/2023/ND-CP on Personal Data Protection officially came into effect. How do you evaluate this Decree in creating a legal corridor?

I consider the issuance and implementation of this Decree to be very important. Having a legal framework for personal data protection not only creates a safer, more transparent and trustworthy digital environment, but also helps shape and regulate the development of technology and society.

Having a legal system helps to define the rights and obligations of stakeholders, from organizations to individuals. This creates transparency and gives users a clear view of how their information is used.

With a legal framework, the business and digital environment become more trustworthy. Users will feel more secure when providing their personal information. In the event of personal information being disclosed or misused, the legal framework is the basis for taking legal action, from punishing violating organizations to protecting users.

A legal system that clearly defines the responsibilities of parties and the consequences they face if they violate privacy regulations not only has a deterrent effect but also helps create a more accountable and transparent digital environment.

Finally, having a legal corridor also encourages businesses and organizations to constantly research and update security technology, to ensure that they comply with regulations.

The situation of revealing personal information and data is quite common, online fraud is increasing. Is there any way to improve the self-protection skills of users?

The situation of information disclosure and the increase in online fraud has created an urgent need to improve users' information protection skills. To do this, it is necessary to first raise users' awareness of operations such as: Users should use strong passwords, combining characters, numbers and special characters. Multi-factor authentication should be used to enhance security...

Organizations and businesses can enhance security systems, apply encryption technology and multi-factor authentication, thereby requiring users to perform appropriate operations to protect their personal accounts.

The situation of information disclosure and the increase in online fraud has created an urgent need to improve users' information protection skills. (Illustration: Internet)

Should personal data protection be integrated into the school curriculum?

In my opinion, integrating personal data protection into the school curriculum is an important and necessary factor. Educating students about personal data protection from the school age will help them have a clear awareness of the importance of this issue and prevent potential risks.

Nowadays, students are exposed to technology from a very early age. This means that the risks associated with protecting personal information are also high from a young age. In an increasingly digital environment, knowing how to protect personal information is not only an IT skill, but also a necessary life skill.

In addition, many schools and educational institutions encourage the use of technology in the learning process. Therefore, understanding the principles of personal information protection is also an important part of supporting learning.

Having basic knowledge about personal data protection will be a valuable foundation for students in developing skills and knowledge later, not only in the field of information technology but also in everyday life.

How to raise awareness of information protection for users, according to you?

Raising awareness of information protection for users is a long process, requiring cooperation from many parties, from technology organizations, management agencies, to users themselves. Below are some measures that can be applied:

Organize communication and propaganda campaigns about the importance of protecting personal information to help raise awareness among users. Or organize online training courses and tutorials on how to protect personal information. Courses can be tailored to suit different user groups, from students to the elderly.

Organizations can build a system for users to report information security incidents and provide feedback so users know how to handle similar situations in the future. Organizations and businesses should cooperate with state management agencies in raising awareness and implementing regulations on personal information protection.

Additionally, mass media and social media channels can be used to disseminate information and create specific campaigns, such as Information Security Month or other important events.

More efforts are needed to introduce and encourage users to adopt technologies that help protect personal information, such as multi-factor authentication, encryption technology, or the use of password management services. Encourage users to participate in information security events, seminars, and webinars to improve their knowledge and skills.

Thank you!

On July 1, 2023, Decree No. 13/2023/ND-CP on Personal Data Protection officially took effect. This is one of the efforts to promote and protect citizens' privacy, including preventing the increasingly complicated situation of personal data theft, threatening to cause serious consequences.

The issuance of the Decree is considered an important step in creating a legal corridor for State agencies to review, evaluate, inspect and examine compliance with regulations on personal data protection for agencies and organizations. This Decree will also help people be "safer" in the digital environment.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/can-tao-de-khang-cho-nguoi-dung-trong-viec-bao-ve-du-lieu-ca-nhan-243676.html