Empowering Innovation: Unlocking the Potential of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies

Location: TU Wien, EI 9 Hlawka-Hörsaal (Gußhausstraße 27-29, Stiege 1, Erdgeschoß, Raum CAEG17)

Date & Time: 2024-10-15; 17:00 - 19:00

Abstract: Data collection is growing rapidly due to the increasing number of connected devices, from smartphones to smart home systems, and advances in artificial intelligence that make data processing more efficient. Businesses and governments are collecting data to enhance decision-making, improve services, and create personalized experiences. For example, smart healthcare can monitor patients remotely, connected devices can optimize energy use, and smart cities can reduce traffic congestion. However, this data collection raises privacy concerns, such as the risk of sensitive health data being exposed, devices recording conversations without consent, and personal data being shared with third parties. Privacy is often seen as a problem or unnecessary because of common prejudices. One is the belief that “I have nothing to hide,” which leads people to dismiss privacy concerns as irrelevant to them personally. Another misconception is that privacy hinders technological progress, with some seeing it as an obstacle to innovation in areas such as AI, smart devices, or personalized services. In this talk, I will address both misconceptions. First, I will show how even small pieces of information can uniquely track and identify individuals, proving that privacy concerns affect everyone, not just those with “something to hide”. Second, I will show how privacy-enhancing technologies enable modern advances without violating individual privacy. From encrypted communications to differential privacy in data analysis, these tools allow us to innovate while protecting personal information at the same time, proving that privacy and technological progress can coexist.