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Debbie Reynolds, "The Data Diva," talks to Caroline Lancelot Miltgen, a Social and Behavioral Scientist (PhD), Consumer/UX Privacy expert, and Responsible AI Expert (France). We discuss Caroline's expertise in consumer privacy, user experience (UX) privacy, and AI ethics. She shares insights from her academic career and extensive research on consumer behavior concerning privacy.

The discussion explores several critical topics, starting with the misconception that consumers don't care about their privacy simply because they frequently share their data. Caroline explains that, in reality, many consumers feel powerless and lack the tools or understanding to protect their personal information. We also explore the challenges posed by the power imbalance between consumers and companies collecting their data, highlighting that existing U.S. and European regulations have not fully addressed this issue.

The conversation also covers the differences between privacy regulations in the U.S. and Europe, particularly around consent and opting out. Caroline underscores consumers' difficulties in opting out of data collection and points out that companies often place the burden of privacy protection on the consumer. We discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) further complicates privacy matters, as many consumers unknowingly provide data used in AI models, raising concerns about AI's impact on privacy. The ethical implications of data usage in AI systems are also a focal point. Caroline calls for a multidisciplinary approach to address privacy challenges, combining legal, technical, and societal perspectives.

Caroline emphasizes that trust and education are essential in improving consumer privacy and suggests that businesses need to be more transparent and less intrusive in their data collection practices. She argues that solving privacy issues requires more than legal or technical solutions, stressing the importance of a broader perspective considering consumer needs. The episode offers valuable insights into how consumers, businesses, and regulators can collaborate to create a more privacy-conscious digital landscape and her hope for Data Privacy in the future.

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