Open Learning Systems and Data Privacy in Digital Era

If you have ever applied for a bank loan, credit card, filed income tax return, passport, driving licence etc, the list is endless, you have been sharing your personal information –either offline or online -with public or private entities. With ever increasing use of technology in our daily lives and advances in digital platforms, while on one hand has brought advantages, on the other it has its dark side too. Data theft, cyberbullying, and unauthorised business use of personal and private data are some of the concerns we face when use digital platforms for storing, transferring and exchanging data and information. In 2015, criminals stole 21.5 million records from the US Office of Personnel Management that contained the highly sensitive personal data of federal employees and their family members. While technology is an enabler of digital economy (PWC, 2018). To make diverse technology platforms work cohesively for growth of digital economy, the systems capture a variety of data. Recent Facebook scandal has put the concerns over data protection and privacy into the limelight. How to handle personal data has become a hot topic. Educational entities capture personal data to be processed for admissions, evaluation and career opportunities. They need to ensure the legitimate use of this personal data, alongwith its integrity and confidentiality.