In this episode of The Data Diva Talks Privacy, Debbie Reynolds, "The Data Diva" speaks with Rowenna Fielding, Director of Miss IG Geek, about data ethics, privacy, governance, and the human impact of how organizations collect and use data. Rowenna shares her unconventional path into privacy, beginning in theater and information technology before eventually specializing in information governance, data protection, and data ethics. She explains how her work evolved as she became increasingly interested not only in legal compliance but also in the broader consequences of the way organizations make decisions about people using data.
The conversation explores the distinction between compliance and ethics, and why organizations often assume that following policies, regulations, or technical controls automatically leads to ethical outcomes. Rowenna argues that data is not neutral or objective but is instead the product of human choices, incentives, and assumptions. Debbie and Rowenna discuss how organizations frequently collect and use data without fully considering whether the data is appropriate, whether it should be collected at all, or whether its use could unintentionally cause harm.
They examine the challenge of defining harm in the context of privacy and data protection, particularly when the effects are psychological, social, reputational, or otherwise difficult to measure. The discussion includes comparisons to health and safety frameworks, highlighting how organizations can build systems, governance structures, incentives, education programs, and cultures that make responsible data use the default rather than the exception. Rowenna explains how GDPR's foundation in fundamental rights provides a useful framework for evaluating ethical questions and why organizations must think beyond legal compliance to consider the broader impact of their actions on individuals and society.
The episode also explores corporate social responsibility, ESG, organizational values, and how leaders can establish meaningful ethical boundaries in environments where technology is advancing faster than regulation or societal norms. Throughout the conversation, Debbie and Rowenna challenge organizations to think critically about what it means to use data responsibly and how privacy programs can move beyond box-checking exercises to become part of a broader commitment to reducing harm and protecting people.
By popular demand, Debbie Reynolds Consulting is now offering executive briefings on emerging data privacy risks and how companies can avoid them. To learn more, visit the Executive briefings page on my website.
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Debbie Reynolds Consulting, LLC
