An International Data Privacy Day to remember …

On this Data Privacy Day I delivered a welcomed keynote to the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority on Building Digital Trust in Aviation.

In a sector that thrives on trust and excellence, ensuring data privacy isn’t just a compliance issue—it’s foundational to the industry’s future.

Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority Logo

The keynote addressed the following points:

✈ The Rationale Behind Data Privacy Laws: Data privacy laws are not just regulations—they’re reflections of societal values. For these laws to be effective, they must align with cultural and regional contexts, ensuring rights are meaningful to the people they aim to protect.

🌍 Privacy in the Aviation Sector: From biometric boarding to real-time data sharing, aviation is at the forefront of innovation. But these advancements come with unique challenges, particularly when managing international transfers of passenger data. The ongoing dialogue between ICAO and IATA highlights the complexities of global regulation in a highly interconnected industry.

🔐 The Role of Privacy Programs in Innovation: The future is autonomous piloting and predictive maintenance. Innovation and privacy are not at odds. A robust data privacy program enables transformative technologies while safeguarding passenger trust. It’s about balancing opportunity with responsibility.

🤝 Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Building and maintaining an effective privacy program requires collaboration across disciplines—legal, technical, operational, and more. Privacy can’t live in silos; it must be a shared priority.

The underlying theme? Building digital trust. In aviation, trust is everything—passengers trust us with their safety, their journeys, and their personal data. Strengthening that trust through a culture of privacy and transparency is essential to the industry’s continued success.