Privacy continues to be front and center on the global stage, with the advent of the General Data Protection Regulation, the growing momentum for U.S. privacy legislation, and new laws in Asia and Latin America. At Workday, we welcome this renewed attention, as privacy protections have been a fundamental component of Workday’s services from our very beginning.
Much of the current discussion around privacy is driven by new possibilities unlocked by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data analytics. To power these technologies, multiple data sources are brought together to generate insights and make predictions across a wide range of use cases. Over the last few years, these technologies have initiated changes in ways unfathomable just a few years ago. At the same time, however, we’ve seen some cases involving misuse of consumers’ data, resulting in questions about whether data technologies respect individuals’ privacy. But in the enterprise context, data-fueled AI and advanced analytics are quietly improving business processes, increasing worker productivity, and surfacing patterns that help business leaders make better decisions—all while incorporating strong privacy protections.
As a proponent of AI and advanced analytics, we want to reaffirm Workday’s continued commitment to privacy. First and foremost, the personal data our customers share with us is their data. We believe strong privacy protections can live in harmony with the data needs of advanced analytics and increased data-driven decision making. We also believe that privacy rights must be protected through strong legislation and enforcement that ensures ethical use of individuals’ information.
Today we go a step further, by announcing that in addition to our ongoing compliance with privacy laws and regulations, Workday will follow three Privacy Principles that reflect our core values—specifically customers, integrity, and innovation—in all that we do:
- Put Privacy First
- Innovate Responsibly
- Safeguard Fairness and Trust
Let’s dive a little deeper into each of these principles: