Where tech and privacy collide - June 2018 - Fidelity Security Group

Where tech and privacy collide
June 2018, Security Services & Risk Management

Balancing competing human rights and interests is a complex exercise for legislators. When the subject is the right to privacy, giving effect to a new law can be even trickier. The enactment of the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA) in 2013 is a prime example.

In a sector that utilises new integrated technology to surveil and protect citizens and businesses, leading security companies must stay on the cutting-edge of smart solutions, on the one hand, and comply with privacy laws on the other hand. Amid a competitive race to rollout ‘big brother’ technology, the industry must weigh competing interests to ensure they do not breach privacy laws.

Select sections of PoPIA have come into effect, but many of the provisions that create compliance requirements have yet to commence. Uncertainty about when the law will be fully implemented is no reason for the industry to delay implementing operational regime changes. Those slow off the mark risk being left behind by advances in the dual realms of technology and regulation.

As a starting point, businesses must read the Information Regulator’s PoPIA guidelines specifying the duties and responsibilities of ‘information officers’, who are essentially a company’s point person on all matters related to information security.

A security company with a national footprint in residential and commercial markets, such as Fidelity ADT, has already started examining its policies and procedures to ensure it’s aligned with PoPIA. The company’s integrated solutions for office parks and commercial business premises include visual verification monitoring, CCTV surveillance, and vehicle tracking.

Fidelity ADT uses a locally produced motion-activated recording system developed by SecuVue. “With the systems in place at commercial properties, we can use facial recognition technology to compare images against a detailed database of ‘persons of interest’ when the need arises,” says Clive van Ryneveld, Fidelity ADT commercial executive. The system was built for the South African market ensuring seamless integration into existing infrastructure. The cameras are monitored by the Fidelity ADT control room operator, reducing the risk of false alarms.

‘Smart analytics algorithms’ automatically verify information, reducing the need for human intervention, he adds.

Van Ryneveld says Fidelity ADT’s commercial offerings are centrally controlled and operated so its systems are ready for PoPIA. “In the meantime, we are auditing how our electronic systems and employees gather information.”

Fidelity ADT employees are also restricted in terms of the type of information they are allowed to access, edit or collect. “This is driven by a system and authorisation protocol, internal policies and procedures.” As a security provider, Van Ryneveld says, the company regards customer information as highly confidential, so safeguards and automatic audit trails are embedded into its system.

The remaining sections of PoPIA will only commence once the Information Regulator is fully operational, which could be at the end of 2018. When the President proclaims the commencement date, businesses will have a grace period of one year before enforcement begins.

For more information, contact Fidelity Security Group, +27 (0)11 763 9000, danielmo@fidelitysecurity.co.za, www.fidelitysecurity.co.za

Credit(s)
Supplied By:	Fidelity Security Group
Tel:	+27 11 763 9000
Fax:
Email:	media@fidelitysecurity.co.za
www:	www.fidelitysecurity.co.za

Further reading:

Intelligence and compliance depend on data governance
June 2018, Technews Publishing, This Week's Editor's Pick, Cyber Security, Security Services & Risk Management
The growth of data in all its forms caused data governance to become increasingly complex, to the point where it is a skill in itself.
Data governance and security
June 2018, Technews Publishing, This Week's Editor's Pick, Cyber Security, Security Services & Risk Management
Data governance has become a key issue for all businesses, and as with all things data-related these days, security is a key component of data governance.
Phangela set to upgrade security industry
June 2018, News, Security Services & Risk Management
Phangela Security is on an expansion drive, taking a new data-driven approach to the security market countrywide.
Afribiz Invest partners with RSS Security Services
June 2018, News, Security Services & Risk Management, Retail (Industry)
New security company RSS Commercial will give South African businesses and government departments fresh options, including the ability to maximise cost efficiency.
SA fraud statistics confirm higher levels of crime
June 2018, This Week's Editor's Pick, News, Security Services & Risk Management, Retail (Industry)
Once believed to be the domain of government, high level economic crime has become more common in the corporate arena with exposure of the wrongdoing of many reputable companies.
Does GDPR apply to you?
June 2018, Security Services & Risk Management
Ross Saunders from Cura Software Solutions asks if you have considered whether or not your business needs to align with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)?
Data curation equals business success
June 2018, Security Services & Risk Management
The value of data analytics and the insight it provides is only as good as the quality of data used, which is why data curation is critical to the management of the data lifecycle.
The story behind an SA-made home automation solution
June 2018, Technews Publishing, This Week's Editor's Pick, Perimeter Security, Alarms & Intruder Detection, Security Services & Risk Management
The Sentian i3 is a ‘brain’ for home security, and comprises hardware, embedded software, a cloud service and user app. It can connect to existing alarm systems and off-the-shelf CCTV cameras.
Rugged device thwarts criminals
June 2018, Technews Publishing, Security Services & Risk Management, Integrated Solutions
The Active Track is a simple device in terms of operability and requires the minimum amount of training before guards can use it effectively.
An intelligence-based security model
June 2018, This Week's Editor's Pick, Security Services & Risk Management
Intelligence-driven security can change the industry for the better through cloud-based data services such as Locstat.
Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) training
June 2018, Training & Education, Security Services & Risk Management
Those outside the USA who cannot afford or who do not wish to travel to the USA will be able to receive the same high-level REI training and certification in South Africa.
Combating the evolving threat of fraud
May 2018, Technews Publishing, This Week's Editor's Pick, Security Services & Risk Management
It is impossible to pin an exact number on how much fraud costs the South African economy, but analysis of leading research reports on the subject puts it easily in the billions of Rands per year.