The PNM Government is keeping T&T in the Stone Age, failing to protect citizens’ information by not fully proclaiming the Data Protection Act 2011.
This is the situation at a time when people’s lives are stored on phones, there’s ChatGPT technology and the US Government has banned TikTok on government-issued devices following security concerns, says Opposition Senator Jearlean John.
John expressed concerns in the Senate yesterday in debate on an Opposition motion calling for Government to fully proclaim the Data Protection Act 2011.
“Trinidad and Tobago’s data protection is inadequate, basic and in dire need of proclamation of the DPA,” she added.
John said if the law drafted 11 years ago isn’t fit for purpose now as Government said, it means “we need data protection more than ever.”
She noted advances in big data analytics, the growing importance of artificial intelligence and the fact that lives are now stored on phones.
“There’s growing awareness that the apps and services we use daily can collect vast amounts of data. High profile incidents and scandal have shed light on the perils of oversharing online, an example played itself out in the public domain during the recent Carnival, the way companies have previously abused permissions to harvest data.”
John gave the example of ChatGPT which uses dialogue as one of the primary ways to collect highly personal information.
“The software’s power means it’s easy for the user to forget it’s an AI system and to begin chatting as you might with a human. In doing so, you may reveal things you’d never type into a search engine... and all of these personal facts are now tied to your email and your phone number.
“Because of the indiscriminate way ChatGPT gathers data, much of it will refer to people, and will include things they’ve written or said over the last few years or decades, in the most varied contexts, including on social media, personal websites, and in chat or even email threads, if they’re publicly available.
“Much of ChatGPT’s power lies in its ability to bring all these disparate inputs together and analyse them on a hitherto impractical scale. Inevitably, this will result in it finding and making explicit connections/associations that may not be otherwise apparent.
“When users interrogate ChatGPT, it could expose information or rumours about themselves or others that people would not want made public. Since ChatGPT has no understanding of what it produces, it will not hold back information that might be embarrassing or lead to careers or relationships being wrecked. It will be very hard to prevent this even when basic safeguards are built in.”
John also noted the TikTok app, used widely in T&T, which carries much of its users’ information.
“The US government has banned TikTok on federal government-issued devices due to national security concerns over its China-based parent company. The US fears that the Chinese government may leverage TikTok to access those devices and US user data.
“All of this is happening in a digitally connected world and Government remains paper bound and based, keeping T&T in the Stone Age satisfied to use the Cabinet to sanction illegal spying and capture of citizens’ private data instead of approving proclamation and operationalization of the DPA.
“Every area of our lives is affected. When I purchase a lipstick at MAC in West Mall, they want my name, address, phone number,” she added noting a similar request when she purchased sunscreen, sain John.
“I had to ask the attendant are you cashing or not? She insisted that to conclude the sale she at least required my name and telephone number ... If the Government cannot protect the rights and freedoms of our citizens, then it’s the Government that isn’t fit for purpose.”