Data is king, so make sure it’s protected

WE are living in a knowledge-driven economy where data is king. In fact, it is now common to see the buying and selling of data.

Information is a valuable commodity, and data serves as the raw material for generating valuable insights and making informed decisions across various sectors.

Rapid advancement of technology, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics, relies heavily on large and diverse datasets.

Data-driven decision-making has become a fundamental aspect of business strategy. Organisations leverage data to gain insights into customer behaviour, market trends, and operational efficiency, enabling them to stay competitive.

From personalised marketing and content recommendations to tailored healthcare services and education, the ability to analyse and use data enhances individual experiences.

Data is also crucial in scientific research and medical progress. It accelerates research by providing the basis for experiments, simulations, and the discovery of patterns that can lead to breakthroughs in various fields. The impressive breakthrough we saw in vaccine development during the Covid-19 pandemic owed much to effective data analytics.

The sustainable management of cities also relies on data to optimise resource usage, improve infrastructure, and enhance the quality of life for residents.

Governments and organisations leverage data for security purposes, including surveillance, threat detection, and prevention of criminal activities. This has implications for national security and public safety.

Nations and businesses that effectively harness data gain a competitive edge. Data-driven insights enable more efficient resource allocation, product development, and overall strategic planning.

Data analytics is used to optimise supply chains, making them more resilient and responsive to changes in demand, disruptions, and market conditions. We see the increasing use of this in manufacturing now.

Data is of course instrumental in monitoring and understanding environmental changes. It supports efforts to monitor climate change, manage natural resources sustainably, and respond to environmental challenges.

Especially evident in times of pandemics, data is crucial for epidemiological studies, tracking the spread of diseases, and formulating effective public health responses. We saw this during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The increasing reliance on data comes with challenges, however. These include privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the national Central Database Hub or Padu (Pengkalan Data Utama), a system containing individual and household profiles encompassing citizens and permanent residents in Malaysia that can be accessed by all government agencies.

Described as a national database of socioeconomic information for every household in the country, Padu is expected to provide the details to assist the government in its subsidy rationalisation programme.

But with the country being ranked high on the list of data breaches globally, “Cybersecurity report ranks Malaysia as eighth most breached country in Q3 2023” (The Star, Dec 6, 2023), the government must assure the public that their data will be protected.

Of course, it must also ensure that the data is not abused.

PROF DATUK DR AHMAD IBRAHIM

Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy

UCSI University