KUWAIT: As online business continues to grow, the issue of identity becomes increasingly thorny. Passwords proliferate and security details are requested by an ever growing number of service providers and content owners. New services, such as cloud computing, make the protection of personal details even more complex. As we shop, meet friends and share information online, we create an identity that is uniquely our own. We create a 'Digital Self.'With so much of our 'self' online, who do we trust to protect, use and manage our information?A privacy survey conducted by Nokia Siemens Networks in September 2009 in 14 countries revealed that banks are the most trusted institutions when it comes to looking after personal data, followed closely by telecommunications service providers. Mobile providers, landline telephone providers and internet providers also ranked considerably higher than governments. In spite of their stated concerns over privacy, users were generally willing to share data as long as they remain in control and can see the tangible benefits of doing so.Overall, the survey showed that people constantly balance the perceived risks and rewards when they are deciding whether to share information, based on how sensitive the data is, who they're sharing the data with and what they're getting in return. The take home message is that most people are concerned in principle about privacy, but that doesn't stop them from sharing information if they think the benefits are worth it. An excellent illustration of this is that more than half of all respondents identified themselves as being "very selective" when it comes to sharing their personal information. However, in practice the people in this group were not necessarily more cautious in their behavior than everyone else. For instance, they were just as likely to make personal information such as their real name, photo and relationship status available to everyone on social networking sites.As people sign up for more and more services, it's easy for them to feel they are losing control of their data as they pass information on to a growing number of providers. In practical terms, this also means that they need to remember more passwords and security procedures, which can disrupt their online experience. For these reasons, two thirds of mobile phone users like the idea of keeping things simple by placing all their data in the hands of a single personal data management portal. This puts the portal provider in a highly trusted position. Over half of users would be happy for their telecoms service provider to fulfill this role and supervise all their various permissions.Telecoms companies have long-standing relationships with their customers. They are bound by service level agreements and billing relationships, and have deep customer insight.Customer insights hold the key to delivering personalized communication services by giving providers a deeper understanding of their customers' wishes and behavior. They can act as a link between customers and the wider world of online services. Tackling concerns about privacy proactively will enable providers to make the most of the opportunities presented by customer insights.With the permission of subscribers, providers can utilize customer data to improve the service experience and provide new offerings either themselves or through third parties.Results of the global survey demonstrated that telecom providers are suited, and more importantly trusted, to help make the fragmented personal data of an individual - their digital self - more tangible and easier to manage. The provider can become an important player in the Web 2.0 world and generate revenue from subscriber data.As the demand for a more personalized communication experience grows, it offers telecom service providers an opportunity to become trusted partners for people as they decide whether to share their information with an array of other providers. By acting as a personal data management portal, telecom providers can effectively position themselves as a protective enabler for people as they access new services.Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions presented in the column are the company's own and do not necessarily represent those of Al Watan Daily and its staff.
Source: AlWatanDaily
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