This week in data – 8 November:

Each week, we compile the best stories in data. Get up to speed on this week in data without having to search for it.

Australian automotive industry wins big on data

Aussie car fans are happy today. Or rather, mechanics are. The automotive industry has now been given access to manufacturers’ data, which will make it easier to do repair jobs. This is a big win considering manufacturers wanted to keep this information secret – and it’ll benefit consumers as well. 

THE TAKEAWAY:

“The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) CEO James Voortman said: “We maintain our support for a regulatory approach to information sharing provided it is done on fair and reasonable commercial terms and allows for the secure release of sensitive information.”

Wanna save a million bucks? Get a privacy policy

That’s a lot of cash. Harvard Business Review says a privacy policy will save the dough. But that’s not the biggest finding: the HBR also says that its new research proves your own data breach can directly affect competitors in both good and bad ways. Crazy, right? For instance, there’s a “guilt by association” effect that can happen to certain industries. 

Fortunately, there are two solutions: be transparent about how you’re using data, and give customers control.

THE TAKEAWAY:

“Firms high on these two dimensions also were buffered from stock price damage during data breaches, either their own or rivals’. Yet only about 10% of Fortune 500 firms fit this profile.”

Yet another Facebook data breach

Again? It’s routine at this point. Facebook says some developers – 100, actually – may have been able to access Groups member data. That isn’t great, especially when the company just launched a rebrand this week in the name of transparency and optimism. 

THE TAKEAWAY:

“Papamiltiadis says there’s no evidence that partners have abused their access, but he says Facebook has asked them to delete any improperly obtained information and will conduct audits to confirm it’s gone.”

Australia pioneers data freight hub

The Federal Government is putting more than $8 million towards creating a database for freight information with the intention of helping the industry be more efficient. More freight, more taxes. Great. Still, the industry is happy about this.

THE TAKEAWAY:

“We expect primary users of the Hub to include industry, government, regulators, the research community, and the community more broadly. Different user groups are likely to have different uses of the Hub, and a key challenge will be finding a way to serve these disparate uses.”

Tik Tok Tik Tok…boom?

So this is a weird one. You know Tik Tok, the network all the teens are on? The American military is concerned it might actually expose the force to data breaches. Not so much due to the fact that the app exists…but the fact it’s owned by a Chinese company.

THE TAKEAWAY:

““… the threat posed through facial recognition, location data, and A.I. based image scanning techniques could allow the Chinese government to obtain sensitive information,” Rubio said Tuesday in a statement to Military Times. “In the wrong hands, this information poses a risk, not only to the individual involved, but to American national security.””

LA takes Uber scooters off the streets

Remember last week we said Uber told the city of Los Angeles it wouldn’t hand over some data? Now, the city has retaliated: it’s not letting Uber scooters on the street. Dang.

THE TAKEAWAY:

“Uber received multiple warnings about the potential suspension before it went into effect. Users in LA can still rent Jump bikes and scooters this week while the permit is suspended, but if it is formally revoked, it will no longer be lawful for the company to operate.”

That’s our wrap for this week. Thanks for reading – we hope you found it entertaining and informative. We’d love to hear your thoughts on these articles and anything else data related! Email us anytime at enquiries@datarepublic.com.