Simon McDougall: Shaping the Future of Privacy and Data Protection
- Privacy Law In Canada
- Oct 25, 2023
- 2 min read
October 25th, 2023 --- Simon McDougall, Chief Compliance Officer at ZoomInfo and a member of the IAPP board of directors, has a background in both the private and public sector.
He emphasizes the importance of understanding that the privacy community is generally well-intentioned and that most individuals and organizations are trying to do the right thing in terms of privacy.
During his time at the U.K. Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), where he served as deputy commissioner and executive director of technology policy and innovation, McDougall focused on the risk of harm to individuals rather than just technical breaches. He described how the ICO had to address privacy issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, often saying "yes" to proposals and initiatives that were clearly beneficial to public health and privacy.
He takes pride in the ICO's work on artificial intelligence (AI) and the launch of guidance on AI as well as an AI risk toolkit. McDougall now serves on the IAPP AI Governance Center Advisory Board and is dedicated to advancing AI governance. McDougall's role at ZoomInfo involves overseeing privacy, government and regulatory relations, compliance, risk management, and operations.
He values the opportunity to work in the private sector and apply his privacy and risk management experience. He reflects on the growth of the privacy community and the substantial role that privacy professionals play in making people's lives better. He emphasizes the need for privacy to be integrated into broader discussions about technology and data and not viewed as a siloed concern. Simon McDougall encourages a holistic approach to privacy in the context of rapidly evolving technology and data usage. He believes it's essential to think broadly about information risks and societal questions related to technology and data.
Overall, the article provides insights into Simon McDougall's career journey, his experiences in privacy regulation, and his views on the privacy community and its role in shaping a better future for privacy and data protection.
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