PwC: Privacy Is a Global Issue

Almost every country surveyed has seen an increase in the number of privacy complaints, issues and breaches raised to regulators across the globe in 2018, according to PwC. There is also a universal increase in enforcement actions being taken.

Now in its fifth year, PwC’s Global Privacy and Security Enforcement Tracker provides a synopsis of privacy issues and trends that are causing regulators to take action in 36 countries, 18 in Europe and 18 in the rest of  the world. It provides insightful reading for all those who have privacy on their agenda, regardless of where they are located.

“2018 was a pivotal year for data protection not just in the EU, with the introduction of the GDPR, but globally," Stewart Room, lead partner for GDPR and data protection at PwC UK, commented. "It it looks like 2019 is set to be even more so. Many had begun to question whether the GDPR really was going to result in the anticipated regulatory actions and fines. It is ironic then that as we publish our fifth annual Global Privacy and Security Enforcement Tracker, the UK regulator has announced their intention to levy two hefty fines, and similar announcements are being made in the US," Room added.

“As well as looking at how to improve their levels of legal compliance, I would encourage organisations to use this insight to help them understand the issues that can give rise to regulatory action. The content of our tracker may refer to 2018 enforcement cases, but these still provide informative lessons on the overwhelmingly negative impact of inadequate data practices.“