RAG TV S3E4: Trust and Protection for Online Identities and Properties

Telecom industry expert, author and analyst Edward Finegold joins regular presenters Eric Priezkalns and Lee Scargall for an examination of the risks and challenges faced by businesses and consumers as an increasing amount of who we are, and what we own, is maintained online.

Who verifies an online identity? How do we prevent it being stolen? What about the ownership of assets connected to that identity? An online presence can be central to modern digital business models. Meanwhile, the lines between personal and business use of the internet and social media have become blurred. This begs questions about who can be held accountable and who is liable for financial losses when online accounts are hijacked or services are interrupted.

Recent events have illustrated why the legal context is being challenged. The new US President has been told his official Twitter account will not inherit any followers, Amazon Web Services shut down a social media network overnight by switching off their cloud, and telcos face compensation claims for failing to prevent account takeovers that were motivated by stealing the victim's online presence. Irrespective of the law, tough decisions need to be made about suspending services when customers behave in ways that are immoral, if not illegal. If that was not complicated enough, the cross-border nature of comms services means international jurisdiction and obligations will never be straightforward, further increasing the risks for providers.