The last three decades have witnessed rapid and transformative technological advancements, particularly in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and communication technologies.

‍The Pervasiveness of Surveillance

Cell phone providers track our location and know what we are up to, who we are with. Our online purchases and browsing patterns are recorded. Google and Apple know what we are thinking because they save our private searches. Social media platforms like SnapChat, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp reveal our social connections. Corporates that surveil us don't just store information; they analyze and sell it to marketers and data brokers, who resell it to anyone willing to pay. Much of this data collection is involuntary, part of an implicit bargain where we trade data for the use of products and services. This bargain is rarely specified in any contract, and our response has largely been passive because these terms aren't laid out explicitly before us.

The Omnipresence of Computers

With a few exceptions, computers are now everywhere. Our phones are computers that make calls. Our cars are computers with wheels and engines. Our thermostats are computers that adapt to our behavior patterns, adjusting the temperature as needed. The technology evolutions that led us to this era have been life-transforming. We stand to benefit from personalized offers and advertisements, accurate navigation to an unknown place we decide to travel, buying items and get them delivered without leaving the comfort of our home. It’s convenience basically. Technology has also become an invaluable tool for law enforcement. However, this convenience comes at the cost of privacy, making it increasingly difficult to maintain confidentiality. The collected information can be used to influence our perceptions, actions, and even speech.

Digital Transformation in Enterprises

Enterprises have also seen significant digital transformations in recent decades. The shift to cloud computing has brought agile and scalable processes. Collaboration tools like Slack and Zoom have revolutionized workplace communication, especially promoting remote work. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has improved productivity, AI/ML have brought breakthroughs in the medical field, and APIs have facilitated the creation of intelligent products and services in a matter of days and weeks.

Challenges and Ethical Concerns

While the digital era has fundamentally reshaped the enterprise landscape in numerous ways, it has also introduced several downsides and challenges. As enterprises become more digitized, they are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber threats compromise sensitive information, leading to substantial financial and reputational damage. Over-reliance on data for decision-making can be problematic if the data is incomplete, biased, or inaccurate, resulting in faulty business strategies, discriminatory practices, or flawed product development. Additionally, not all organizations have equal access to advanced technologies, leading to a digital divide and impacting competitiveness. The use of AI and data analytics raises ethical concerns, including transparency, accountability, and fairness. Algorithms can perpetuate existing biases in data, leading to unjust outcomes or discrimination.

These challenges have led to new innovations in Privacy-Enhancing Technologies, data ethics, regulatory sandboxes, and zero trust architecture. Governments and corporations are expected to increase oversight of data and technology use. Several regulations and data privacy laws have already been enacted in the last decade. Currently, 162 countries have enacted data privacy laws, leaving only 18% of UN member states without a data privacy law or a privacy bill in progress.

While the changes needed are technological and regulatory, we need changes in individual behavior too. We accept the technological changes for the most part, but our response to these has largely been passive. It’s hard to blame us; the changes have been happening so fast! We couldn’t stop them if we wanted to, and it would be highly inadvisable to try. Of course, technological progress is the bedrock to advanced society. We need to be proactive in dealing with new technologies. We have amazing tools at our disposal, and digital technologies could amplify what we can do in our life and career. But only if we put these tools to work. This proactive engagement won't happen until we challenge and change ourselves.