The following passages are copied from the report in the Jakarta Post online <https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2019/01/21/10yearschallenge-could-simplify-data-collection-expert-says.html> which quoted my comments about the recent social media trend #10yearschallenge. It is partially reproduced here for the purpose of wider reach. Please click on the above link to the original source for the complete report.

=========================================================

The #10yearschallenge has recently swept across social media, with users posting pictures of themselves in 2009 and 2019. Sonny Zulhuda, a lecturer in cyber law at the International Islamic University Malaysia and advisor at Malaysia’s Department of Personal Data Protection, said the hashtag could be a shortcut used for data collection.

Speaking to Antara news agency in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Sonny said netizens mostly participated in the challenge for entertainment and nostalgia purposes. However, he also said users might not realize the photos could be used for other purposes that could help social media companies or third parties in their lines of work. These include improving databases of users’ faces based on age, time period, race, gender and environment.

“With such an indicative label as #10yearschallenge, data filtering and interpretation would be so much easier. It’s almost like giving a shortcut for data collection. For some people, this is hardly a new issue as the data has been stored on social media and the internet. What’s considered new is how users have made it easier for companies in regards to data curating and packaging.”

Sonny shared that big data curators could freely verify the data in their database packaging, something that is considered a difficult and important process. “This is because the verification has been done by the data owners themselves. In terms of security, it won’t be a problem should the face transformations be stored securely so they are not misused,” he added.

He also said that facial recognition technology had positive effects, such as helping to solve cases of missing people. However, he said that the same technology could be used by private investigators to spy on other people, or by parties that might use data for commercial and marketing purposes. According to Sonny, the worst possibility is if parties misuse the availability of face data for identity forgery.

“Our faces, biographical data, communications, movements and the combination of all those things are considered assets in this digital era. Let’s always be aware,” he said. (wng)

January 22, 2019
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: Sonny Zulhuda . Comments: Leave a comment

Compiled by Sonny Zulhuda

In 2017, the World Economic Forum issued some reports relating to the recent development of e-commerce laws and policies. The report is entitled “Making Deals in Cyberspace: What’s the Problem?”

This White Paper aims to build the knowledge of current e-transaction and e-signature rules. It evaluates how these apply in national and international commercial contexts, and bridges perspectives from business, legal experts and trade policy-makers to deepen understanding on potential trade policy interventions that could boost regulatory coherence. The paper contributes to a World Economic Forum public-private dialogue series on best practices in e-commerce policy as part of a broader digital trade programme.

The Report can be found here.

Later in 2018, another report by the WEF also enlightens us on an emerging issue related to e-commerce law. Entitled “Addressing E-Payment Challenges in Global E-Commerce,” the WEF highlights that technology has altered the way consumers interact with payment systems. The Internet, digitization, shifting consumer preferences and, in some cases, regulatory reform have accelerated the uptake and use of electronic payments (e-payments). In turn, e-payments have contributed to the growth of e-commerce, making it practical and possible. However, while the digital world is theoretically borderless, national and regional boundaries have not gone away. Restrictions on the international supply, use and availability of e-payment services are among the challenges to global e-commerce.

This white paper informs discussion on e-payment challenges and solutions. It provides brief context on the e-payment ecosystem, the opportunities the sector presents for small business and financial inclusion and the payment-related hurdles faced by small players dealing digitally across borders. Given that trade frameworks can address international commercial frictions and support e-payment development, the paper enhances understanding of relevant efforts to date, and reflects on what else could be done.

Find this report here.

November 15, 2018
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: Sonny Zulhuda . Comments: Leave a comment