Learn how to protect your company’s online information in the age of AI

Artificial intelligence is an inevitable part of our lives, with juggernauts like OpenAI, Perplexity, Microsoft, Google, Meta and Nvidia making this emerging tech the topic of discussion at every coffee corner. 

But wait: How do these organizations get such huge data sets to train their models? Why do we see ads for everything we write about in our social media feeds and emails? What about my privacy? Do these tech giants have access to all my personal data? 

If all these questions weigh on your mind, we have got something for you.

As we approach Data Privacy Day on Tuesday, Jan. 28, the data privacy and AI governance landscape continues rapidly evolving, presenting challenges and opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. This year’s event comes at a critical juncture as new regulations take effect around the world.

2025: A major milestone for data privacy and AI around the world 

Nearly half of the United States enacted modern data privacy legislation by the end of 2024. Eight more states — Maryland, Delaware, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee and Minnesota — join this group as their own consumer information protection laws take hold this year. This proliferation of laws drives a shift toward more stringent data protection practices across the nation.

Further afield, the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act is taking full effect while both India and Saudi Arabia roll out their own data regulations. Taken together, these landmark pieces of legislation set a global benchmark for AI regulation that emphasizes the need for privacy-preserving techniques like federated learning and differential privacy.

What this means for your company and society

The evolving regulatory landscape profoundly impacts businesses and businesspeople — particularly new ventures and entrepreneurs. As privacy laws become more complex and intertwined with AI-specific regulations, companies face greater challenges to comply with inconsistent requirements without hindering innovation.

Data bill of material (DBoM) has emerged as a cornerstone concept for organizations prioritizing information protection. By performing data discovery and identifying personal and sensitive data throughout their software development lifecycle, businesses can ensure compliance, reduce risks and build consumer trust. This approach particularly helps growth-oriented entities and small businesses that must navigate these regulations with limited resources.

The transition from third-party cookies to first-party data collection is another significant shift affecting digital marketing strategies. As browsers phase out third-party cookies, marketers must focus on collecting and using data directly from customers with their consent. This change prioritizes building direct relationships with consumers and fostering trust through transparent practices.

I work for Ardent Privacy, a Maryland-based data privacy company that offers an AI-driven solution to help businesses reduce their unwanted or excess data footprint. We believe this approach aids both compliance and resilience in case of a data breach. Our innovative solution leverages artificial intelligence to tackle some of data privacy’s most pressing challenges like data discovery, data minimization, privacy impact assessment, data breach notification and consent management. We implement this solution to help companies, global organizations and defense contractors alike navigate this complex regulatory environment. 

We’re conducting a data privacy awareness day event in collaboration with UpSurge Baltimore, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, bwtech@UMBC, University of Baltimore and the Cybersecurity Associaton to promote best practices and empower entrepreneurs through these changes. Join us to learn from eminent industry figures like Sameer Ahirrao, CEO of Ardent Privacy; Maureen Dry-Wasson, global privacy officer at Allegis Group; and Laura Mateczun, interim associate director of the Maryland Institute for Innovative Computing at UMBC.

While the times present unique hurdles and confusion, they also offer a chance for companies to differentiate themselves through strong privacy practices and trust-building with their customers. Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at UpSurge’s downtown Baltimore headquarters to learn, in conjunction with the latest Equitech Tuesday gathering, how your business can take advantage of this.