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Merry Marwig, Vice President, Global Communications & Advocacy, Privacy4Cars
In this episode, Debbie Reynolds, the Data Diva, speaks with Merry Marwig, Vice President, Global Communications & Advocacy at Privacy4Cars, about privacy risks in connected vehicles and the expanding automotive data ecosystem.
Merry explains that modern vehicles function as sophisticated data platforms that continuously collect and transmit data on drivers, passengers, and vehicle activity. The conversation explores the types of data collected, including location data, behavioral data, infotainment usage, diagnostic data, and other signals generated through connected systems, as well as how that data is shared across manufacturers, dealerships, service providers, insurers, and third-party technology providers.

Debbie and Merry discuss the complexity of data flows within the automotive ecosystem, including the roles of controllers, processors, and third parties, and how these relationships create challenges for transparency, accountability, and consent. The discussion highlights how individuals often lack visibility into how their data is used and shared across multiple entities.
The conversation also includes a discussion of Debbie Reynolds, the Data Diva’s work on the Internet of Things Advisory Board report with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and how that work highlighted many of the same issues now seen in connected vehicles, including data sharing across ecosystems, lack of transparency, and challenges with governance and accountability in multi-party environments.

Debbie and Merry examine consumer awareness gaps, including the fact that most individuals do not fully understand the extent of data collection in vehicles or how their information is used. They also discuss what happens to personal data when a vehicle is sold, transferred, or serviced, and the importance of tools and processes that allow individuals to manage, delete, or control their data across the vehicle lifecycle.

The episode also covers regulatory developments impacting automotive privacy, the role of advocacy organizations in improving industry practices, and the importance of clear communication between companies and consumers. The discussion emphasizes the need for organizations to integrate privacy into product design and governance processes while balancing innovation and responsible data use.

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

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In this episode, Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” speaks with Evan Benjamin, President of Tier 3 Inc., about the growing challenges of privacy in AI systems, particularly in relation to inference, agent-based systems, and data lifecycle management.

Evan shares his transition from IT, e-discovery, and information security into privacy, highlighting how the rapid adoption of large language models has exposed gaps in how organizations approach privacy and data protection. The conversation explores the distinction between security and privacy, emphasizing that security focuses on protecting systems while privacy focuses on purpose, data use, and fundamental rights.

Debbie and Evan discuss the risks associated with AI-driven inference, including how systems generate insights about individuals based on context and historical data, often without user awareness or control. They also examine how AI memory and agent-based systems can extend data usage beyond original intent, raising concerns about purpose limitation and data minimization.

The discussion further addresses challenges with data retention, logging, and traceability, as well as the difficulty of deleting data from AI systems once it has been incorporated into model training. Evan highlights the technical limitations of data erasure in machine learning models and the implications for privacy rights such as the right to be forgotten.

Finally, the conversation explores issues related to data processing across multiple systems, including the complexity of managing controllers, processors, and sub-processors, as well as emerging risks related to liability when organizations deploy AI systems and autonomous agents.

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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Become an insider, join Data Diva Confidential for data strategy and data privacy insights delivered to your inbox.

💡 Receive expert briefings, practical guidance, and exclusive resources designed for leaders shaping the future of data and AI.

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Debbie Reynolds Consulting, LLC

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In this episode, Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” speaks with Mojisola Abi Sowemimo about the intersection of privacy, governance, and emerging technologies, with a focus on how organizations can better align data practices with regulatory expectations and ethical responsibilities.

The conversation explores how organizations approach privacy in practice, including gaps between policy and implementation, and the challenges of operationalizing privacy requirements across complex systems. Mojisola discusses the importance of embedding privacy considerations early in system design, as well as the need for organizations to move beyond surface-level compliance toward more accountable and transparent data practices.

Debbie and Mojisola also examine how global regulatory differences influence organizational behavior, the role of governance frameworks in managing data risk, and the importance of building internal awareness and accountability. The discussion highlights how organizations can strengthen their approach to privacy by aligning legal, technical, and operational perspectives while ensuring that data practices remain consistent with user expectations and regulatory requirements.

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.

Support the show

Become an insider, join Data Diva Confidential for data strategy and data privacy insights delivered to your inbox.

💡 Receive expert briefings, practical guidance, and exclusive resources designed for leaders shaping the future of data and AI.

👉 Join here: http://bit.ly/3Jb8S5p

Debbie Reynolds Consulting, LLC