Is Privacy Dead or Are We Redefining It?

Stephen Bolinger, Chief Privacy Officer at Informa, has a career that spans three continents and more than two decades, with the last seventeen years devoted to privacy and data protection matters across a range of industries, including tech, medical devices, and financial services. Stephen produced a fascinating film called Privacy People. In this episode… As technology evolves and cultural perspectives shift, so does the debate over privacy. With each new tech innovation, from smartphones to AI, companies are collecting more personal information than ever, leading some to claim that privacy is dead. Meanwhile, businesses are navigating a fragmented regulatory landscape, particularly in the United States, where varying laws create compliance challenges. These growing concerns raise the question: is privacy dead, or is it just evolving? Cultural perspectives on privacy differ significantly, influencing how laws are structured in regions like the U.S., Europe, and Australia. While some nations treat privacy as a human right, others see it as a consumer protection issue. To address these concerns, companies need to integrate privacy into their overall data governance strategies, ensuring responsible data collection and AI oversight. As privacy expectations shift, businesses need to adapt, recognizing that privacy is not disappearing — it is being redefined, reinforcing the need for dedicated privacy professionals. In this episode of the She Said Privacy/He Said Security podcast, Jodi and Justin Daniels chat with Stephen Bolinger, Chief Privacy Officer at Informa, about the evolving role of privacy professionals and how cultural differences influence data protection expectations worldwide. Stephen discusses the challenges of navigating privacy laws across different countries, the increasing importance of data and AI governance, and why privacy professionals need to expand their expertise beyond compliance to address broader ethical implications and technological advancements. Stephen also highlights his latest project, a documentary film entitled Privacy People, which sheds light on the complexities of data privacy.