Report Characterizes China’s Growing Surveillance State

This week’s intro is brought to you by one of our Senior Account Executives, Brandon Wise. Brandon reflects on how data privacy compliance is — much like moving — far easier when you have some helping hands.

Change happens fast. If you asked me a year ago when I would move back to California, I’d have said 2030. Fast forward eight months, and I was packing a box truck to drive 26 hours to my native Bay Area. 

Moving across the country can be overwhelming, but a good support network can help make a big change like this more manageable. I had three of my best friends from college help me pack up my apartment, and my Mom even flew out to road trip with me. 

Like a cross-country move, data privacy can also feel overwhelming. At the start of 2023, at least 5 states will be introducing or updating their privacy laws. Thankfully, there are companies like Osano who are more than happy to help you handle change.

TikTok teams up with Oracle to prevent Chinese access to US-based data

Responding to criticism from US authorities, TikTok has begun working with Oracle to store US user data in US-based servers, rather than in servers owned by China’s ByteDance. Reports indicate that Chinese TikTok employees have repeatedly accessed US-based user data, and concerns over ByteDance’s privacy practices have grown. 

“For more than a year,” said the head of TikTok’s US security and public policy, “we’ve been working with Oracle on several measures as part of our commercial relationship to better safeguard our app, systems, and the security of US user data. Today, 100% of US user traffic is being routed to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.”

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Canada reintroduces data privacy bill

The Canadian government has introduced Bill C-27, also known as the Digital Charter Implementation Act. Bill C-27 builds upon its predecessor, Bill C-11, which failed in the Canadian Senate. If passed, the bill would introduce three new statutes: the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CPPA), which would replace the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act (PIPEDA); a new administrative tribunal to enforce the CPPA; and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act, which would regulate commercial trade in artificial intelligence systems.

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An analysis by the New York Times reveals China’s growing surveillance state

After reviewing over 100,000 Chinese government bidding records, New York Times reporters characterized the growth of China’s surveillance state over the course of two decades. The bidding documents convey what surveillance products and services were requested by different Chinese government agencies. With this information, New York Times reporters were able to determine what personal information the Chinese government wished to collect from its citizens, including facial recognition data, geolocation, clothing, DNA, voice prints, social connections, and more.

Watch the report 

Osano is growing!

We’re looking for driven and empathetic people to join our early-stage startup that’s shaping the fast-growing privacy industry. If Osano sounds like an environment where you could thrive, why not check out our Careers page? We might have the perfect opportunity for you.