A follow-up to early this week – Connecticut has become the fifth state with a data privacy law. The state has a rule that passed bills become law automatically five days after there are passed during a legislative session, even without the governor’s signature.
And another follow-up – I mentioned the data the CDC used to analyze the pandemic but didn’t mention the company behind it, SafeGraph. Protocol dove into their business and noted how much of the data doesn’t have commercial uses and is generally used by researchers. SafeGraph announced it would remove the data from its online self-serve data platform and the API through which it distributes data to customers. This led to concerns from researchers trying to see the impacts of changes in laws. The company is now considering options such as changing how it approaches data access – say, only vetted researchers access to some data, with the broader public having more limited access.
Why do we care?
I maintain there’s the business to be had in data management – and SafeGraph gives an example. These are complicated issues and, in that mystery, margin. Think of the complexity they are considering and the various ways to approach it.
Then consider how to guide and plan. And for many companies, this will not be a core skill. It’s why I like the space.