Next week, the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry will open its gates once again for visitors from all over the world. More than 85,000 people are expected to attend Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, arguably the most important mobile event on the planet.
A few dozen members of Team AVG, including me, will attend MWC to speak at various conferences, sessions, and forums to share our experience and ideas with other attendees. For the second time in the last few years, I will have the honor to deliver a keynote address at the Congress.
As the mobile ecosystem continues to evolve and as leaders gather to discuss what’s ahead, what’s the most pressing issue that faces us all at MWC 2015? My answer is simple: digital security—and the lack thereof.
In the past several years, we have seen our world go completely and irreversibly mobile. Smartphones have become the most important and the most personal devices in our everyday lives, changing them for the better and opening new, previously unimaginable opportunities. However, we’ve also seen how this gold coin has its flipside: our activities are monitored, collected, and stored by numerous companies and organizations, both with and without our knowledge and consent.
“What we do online leaves a trace”.
The modern Internet has given rise to an economy based on collecting and monetizing user information. Finding value in data is not inherently bad, but the traditional notice and consent model that guides today’s environment was not designed for the complexities of data in our digital world. In addition, the privacy policies are often hard to understand, a difficulty which is compounded by the fact that people are consuming more and more of them in mobile form factors.
As a result, the lives of consumers are more exposed now than ever before in history. Their actions online are being watched, even scrutinized, and not necessarily towards benevolent ends. Moreover, the information that is legitimately collected and stored by legally-operating companies makes it easier for criminals, hacktivists, and even terrorists to hit tens of millions of unaware users with a single attack.
“Privacy is a major concern”.
But this climate can’t last. Fact is, consumers are catching on. Privacy is a rapidly-growing concern of theirs, and they’re increasingly sensitive to companies that fail to protect and respect it. A recent study clearly shows that by violating people’s privacy in more and more ways, companies undermine their trust and antagonize them. For example, almost half of respondents (49 per cent) said that trust prevented them from downloading apps or using them once they are installed. Over a third (34 per cent) said it stopped them buying any mobile apps and services.
It’s no surprise then that the penetration and adoption of new technologies is slowing down across all sectors – from hardware to software to services. We are witnessing the most amazing technological revolution in the history of mankind. Our collective and striking ability to innovate has revolutionized not only the marketplace, but also everyday life. And if we want to facilitate further development of technology and digital economy, we need to challenge our thinking again. It’s time for another revolution, a Trust Revolution Trust.
There are three essential avenues to make this Revolution happen:
- Provide people with more powerful, simple and integrated security tools.
- Commit to transparency and responsibility in the way we work with users’ data.
- Educate users on how to keep themselves and their families safe in the Digital World, and ultimately make them smart users of smart devices.
This is the message that I am bringing to MWC 2015. Together, we must pledge to provide a basic level of security and privacy to everyone in the world. Re-establishing privacy and security as inalienable human rights in the cyberspace is a big challenge and no easy task, but it will ultimately be beneficial for consumers and vendors alike. A lasting and profitable business relationship should be built on trust.
“Users are demanding trust”.
Moreover, consumer data shows that more and more people are demanding trust, actively considering it when they choose whether or not to adopt a technology. To this end, a healthy and informed consumer base is more apt to contribute to a productive and profitable Internet.
I believe that Mobile World Congress 2015 is the right platform for initiating this discussion and starting to take meaningful, responsible steps towards making the digital world a safer, better place for everyone.
The unique gathering of mobile industry vendors, service providers, policy makers, and media in Barcelona next week has all the means necessary to shift today’s unhealthy privacy paradigm and usher in a better digital future for all of us.
Stay tuned for more news from the Mobile World Congress!