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Episode 260 – Jon Bello: The Evolution of Privacy in the Philippines and Across Asia

In this episode of The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast, Debbie Reynolds, The Data Diva, speaks with Jon Bello, Partner at MBS Law Offices and IAPP 2025 Vanguard of the Year, about how the Philippines has emerged as a regional leader in privacy and data protection. They discuss how the country transitioned from business process outsourcing compliance to a culture of national awareness, and how its unique cultural and legal frameworks continue to influence privacy in Asia. Jon explains that the Philippines was one of the first Asian nations to pass a comprehensive data privacy law after the EU Data Directive but before the GDPR. He and Debbie examine how the Filipino language lacks a direct translation for the word “privacy,” reflecting a family-centric culture that values openness and community. They explore how this cultural context has shaped attitudes toward data sharing and protection. Jon also highlights how the National Privacy Commission has creatively raised public awareness through social media, educational jingles, and outreach campaigns aimed at children.

The discussion explores how the BPO industry contributed to the passage of the 2012 Privacy and Cybersecurity Laws and how many organizations now operate under three concurrent frameworks: U.S. privacy laws, such as HIPAA and PCI DSS, the Philippine Data Privacy Act, and the GDPR. Jon explains the importance of the Philippine requirement for a “privacy manual,” which goes beyond a privacy policy to define accountability and governance, as well as the legal requirement to register Data Protection Officers. Debbie and Jon also examine the region’s growing focus on AI governance, including Japan’s soft-law model and the Philippines’ proposed registration system for high-risk AI. The episode highlights the cultural diversity and context-specific nature of Asia’s privacy frameworks, underscoring their critical role in the global dialogue on privacy and technology.

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Episode 258 – Terry Bollinger: Understanding the Limits of Artificial Intelligence

In this episode of The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast, Debbie Reynolds, The Data Diva, speaks with Terry Bollinger, retired technology analyst at MITRE, about the limits of artificial intelligence and the growing risks of relying on systems that only mimic human understanding. They discuss how large language models operate as mimicry machines, imitating intelligence rather than achieving it, and how this design choice leads to fundamental weaknesses in trust, accuracy, and accountability. Terry explains that AI models based on probability and pattern replication erase uniqueness, creating false confidence in their results. He warns that by averaging data rather than analyzing meaning, these systems blur important distinctions, making it difficult to detect errors, anomalies, or malicious activity. Debbie and Terry explore why true privacy and security depend on identifying outliers —the small deviations that reveal hidden threats, rather than relying on average trends.

Terry describes how traditional security systems are built on clearly defined boundaries, data paths, and verification processes, while modern AI systems often remove those controls. He emphasizes that when data is distributed, reweighted, and stored probabilistically, it becomes nearly impossible to verify what has been learned, lost, or leaked. The conversation examines the risks of utilizing LLMs in sensitive environments, where transmitting confidential data to remote commercial systems can compromise containment and integrity. Terry discusses how interpolation, or the act of filling in the blanks when data is missing, leads AI to generate convincing but incorrect answers, what he calls “random noise masquerading as insight.” Debbie and Terry also examine why intelligence, wisdom, and comprehension cannot be replicated through scale or speed. The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of human judgment, accountability, and boundary control in an era where automation is expanding faster than understanding.

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The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast – Episode 257 with Gina King, Cyber vCISO and Communications Consultant, King and Company Capital

Struggling to bridge the gap between business and technology teams? In this episode, Gina King shares how building trust and understanding unlocks stronger security outcomes. She also explains why companies rushing into AI without cleaning up their data first are putting their organizations at serious risk.

Gina and I discuss how she bridges communication between technical teams and business leadership, and why understanding motivations and emotions drives better collaboration. We explore how overlooked “folklore processes” create hidden risks, how insider threats and employee churn accelerate knowledge loss during the AI rush, and why privacy and cybersecurity must work symbiotically. Gina explains why data problems almost always precede privacy problems, the dangers of AI drift and misapplied answers, and the legal risks created by unclear contracts, consent gaps, and ambiguous rights to use AI.

We also examine the growing problem of fake AI companies, data-siphoning tools, and the risk they pose to small businesses, and why business leaders must align their data story before adopting AI.

This podcast reaches listeners in 140+ countries and 3,000+ cities and features leaders shaping global privacy, AI, and emerging technology strategy. If you are a business leader, CISO, or privacy professional, this episode will help you prevent AI chaos by fixing your data story and building trust between teams.

Subscribe to The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast for more conversations with global leaders shaping the future of privacy, data, and emerging technology.

#dataprivacy #datadiva #privacy #cybersecurity #AI #datagovernance #businessrisk

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Episode 256 – Jennifer Wondracek, Director of the Law Library and Professor of Legal Research and Writing, Capital University Law School, ABA Women of Legal Tech Honoree

What happens when courts rely on fake cases created by AI? Jennifer Wondracek examines the risks associated with AI in legal research and education.

On The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast, Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” speaks with Jennifer Wondracek, Director of the Law Library and Professor of Legal Research and Writing at Capital University Law School, and ABA Women of Legal Tech Honoree, about the risks of AI in legal research and the responsibility of lawyers and educators to ensure its proper use. Wondracek highlights how courts have already faced real-world consequences when AI systems generated fabricated cases, exposing serious risks to professional practice.

She shares her perspective as a leader in law librarianship and legal technology, describing the epidemic of misattributed citations in legal filings and the dangers of allowing AI to revise legal writing without proper oversight. Wondracek explains why lawyers must verify sources rather than rely blindly on AI outputs, and why technology competency is now a critical requirement in the profession. She traces the shift from print to digital research and considers how AI represents the next stage of transformation. The discussion also addresses how legal education must adapt to prepare students for AI-driven research and practice, ensuring the next generation is ready to use these tools responsibly.

This episode offers valuable insights not only to lawyers and educators but also to anyone curious about how AI is reshaping trust, accountability, and knowledge in fields that impact society as a whole.

Hosted by Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” bringing global leaders together on privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technology.

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Episode 255 – Don Morron, Founder and CEO of Highland Tech, AI Agents for Enterprise

What does it take to build resilience in a world of constant cyber threats? Don Morron shares strategies for adapting without losing control.

On The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast, Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” interviews Don Morron, Founder and CEO of Highland Tech, AI Agents for Enterprise, about how executives can build resilience into their organizations in the face of a constantly evolving cyber threat landscape. Morron shares lessons from his leadership journey in cybersecurity and explains why resilience cannot be bolted on after the fact but must be embedded into enterprise systems from the very beginning.

The conversation covers how AI is reshaping cybersecurity, both by enabling attackers with new tools and by empowering defenders with advanced capabilities. Morron provides practical insights into managing enterprise security operations in rapidly changing conditions without compromising organizational control. He stresses the importance of communication and collaboration across teams, highlighting how siloed approaches undermine resilience. The episode also explains why proactive governance and long-term planning are far more effective than reactive firefighting.

These insights are useful not only for executives and security leaders but also for anyone interested in how organizations adapt to technology-driven risks and build strength in uncertain times.

Hosted by Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” bringing global leaders together on privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technology.

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Episode 254 – Bryan Lee, Founder and General Partner, Privatus Consulting

Why do privacy programs fail even when companies want to succeed? Bryan Lee explains why communication is the missing piece.

On The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast, Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” welcomes Bryan Lee, Founder and General Partner at Privatus Consulting, to discuss why effective privacy programs succeed through strong communication rather than technical jargon. Lee explains how privacy engineering serves as a critical link between policy, compliance, and technical teams, and why clear communication is often the deciding factor in whether organizations achieve their privacy goals.

He explains why many companies fail at privacy, despite genuine intent, often because coordination among stakeholders breaks down. Lee reflects on his own career path, transitioning from intelligence work to privacy consulting, and shares insights into how organizations can overcome communication barriers to develop programs that are both compliant and effective. The conversation also covers the risks of misjudging AI, particularly the mistake of treating systems as if they were human, and how this misunderstanding creates governance and operational problems.

This episode offers strategies for bridging gaps, enhancing collaboration, and addressing complex issues, resonating with privacy leaders, compliance professionals, and anyone seeking to understand how effective communication drives successful outcomes in organizations.

Hosted by Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” bringing global leaders together on privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technology.

Thanks to our Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast Privacy Ambassador Sponsor, Piwik PRO. Piwik PRO is a privacy-first analytics and customer data platform that helps organizations to make informed decisions across their websites, apps, and ad campaigns. They bring an unprecedented level of data transparency, so you know exactly how your data is collected, used, and protected. It is very cool. Marketers gain valuable insights, while legal teams rest assured knowing that your client data remains protected, even as the privacy landscape evolves. Learn more at piwik.pro. Enjoy the show.

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Episode 253 – Priya Gnanasekaran, Senior Security Engineer at LAB3 (Australia)

Can AI be both a risk and a defense? In this episode, Priya Gnanasekaran shares how organizations can manage today’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges.

On The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast, Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” speaks with Priya Gnanasekaran, Senior Security Engineer at LAB3 (Australia), about the complex challenges cybersecurity leaders face with AI, IoT, and cloud security. Drawing on her decade-long career spanning DevSecOps, engineering, and operations, Gnanasekaran explains why cybersecurity cannot be reduced to a single field but must be understood as an amalgamation of multiple interconnected disciplines. She highlights the distinction between IT and cybersecurity and explains why this distinction is crucial for executives making risk and investment decisions.

The conversation examines AI’s dual role in cybersecurity, acting both as a new attack vector and as a defensive tool that, when used responsibly, can strengthen organizational security. Gnanasekaran also details the risks of shadow AI and unmonitored enterprise use, exposing businesses to unmanaged vulnerabilities. She addresses weaknesses in IoT ecosystems, including outdated devices and hardware flaws, and argues that these cannot be solved through patchwork responses. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of “shifting left” by embedding security earlier in DevSecOps processes. Gnanasekaran stresses that cybersecurity cannot be treated like a fire department that responds only after damage has been done.

This discussion offers valuable lessons on resilience, innovation, and proactive strategy, applicable not only to security professionals but also to anyone interested in understanding how digital systems can be better protected and managed.

Hosted by Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” bringing global leaders together on privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technology.

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🎙️ Episode 252 of The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast – J. Mark Bishop and Debbie Reynolds, The Data Diva, on AI myths, GDPR safeguards, and energy costs of large models

In this episode, I speak with J. Mark Bishop, Professor of Cognitive Computing Emeritus at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Scientific Advisor to Fact360, about the myths and realities of artificial intelligence.

Our discussion begins with how we describe AI itself. Mark challenges the language we use, terms like “learning” in machine learning, and argues that much of what is happening is, in fact, just optimization. We examine how anthropomorphic language about AI can create misplaced expectations, shaping how the public and policymakers perceive these technologies.

We examine the tension between AI and privacy, particularly in relation to transparency. Mark reflects on the protections built into frameworks like the GDPR, which explicitly address how personal data may be used when AI makes or informs significant decisions. We examine how these rules strike a balance between individual rights and the need to utilize AI systems in business and government.

Another major theme is metadata analysis. Mark shares insights from his work at Fact360, where analyzing patterns of communication without even looking at message content can reveal signals of organizational change, insider threats, or misconduct. This approach has roots in traffic analysis techniques dating back to World War II, showing how metadata continues to play a powerful role in intelligence and security.

We also discuss the scaling laws of AI and whether building increasingly larger data centers will ultimately lead to artificial general intelligence. Mark strongly critiques this idea, raising concerns about the energy demands of massive AI models. He points out the environmental and ethical costs of data centers, which consume energy on the scale of entire nations, especially when many communities still live in energy poverty.

This episode brings together philosophy, technology, governance, and ethics, a conversation that questions not just what AI is, but what it should be.

Subscribe to “The Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast, now available on all major podcast directories, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, and more.

Hosted by Data Diva Media
Debbie Reynolds Consulting, LLC

#AI #ethics #metadata #GDPR #datagovernance #sustainability
#dataprivacy #datadiva #privacy #cybersecurity

🎙️ 🎙️ Episode 258 of The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast – Jennifer Wondracek and Debbie Reynolds, The Data Diva, on legal tech, privacy risks, redaction failures, and AI detectors

In this episode, I speak with Jennifer Wondracek, Director of the Law Library and Professor of Legal Research at St. Mary’s University School of Law, about the intersection of law, technology, and privacy in an AI-driven world.

Our conversation explores the digital transformation of law practice, starting with the shift from paper-based systems to electronic filing and research tools, and how today’s wave of AI adoption parallels that earlier revolution. Jennifer explains how lawyers once resisted computers as unnecessary, only to later realize that digital tools were essential for efficiency and productivity. We draw parallels to AI today, where professionals must learn how to integrate new tools responsibly.

We discuss the privacy risks of oversharing data with companies and platforms, and how easy it has become for people to give up personal information without realizing the consequences. Jennifer highlights the duty of lawyers to understand both client confiden

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