Digital Identity & Safety: Why Every Business Should Care

During Digital Week 2025 at Université Côte d'Azur, I led a hands-on workshop and recorded a video on a subject that is as relevant to boardrooms as it is to classrooms: digital identity and safety.

In the session, we explored how a person's digital identity extends far beyond a LinkedIn profile or an email address. It includes:

• Browsing history

• Biometric data from devices and wearables

• Location trails logged by apps and maps

• Behavioral analytics silently captured by algorithms

• App interaction data that reveals patterns you might not realize you’re sharing

For universities and companies, this isn't just a "personal privacy" issue - it's a strategic business risk. Data leaks, identity theft, and profiling by algorithms can impact:

• Brand trust: especially if employee or customer data is compromised.

• Recruitment: with 70% of hiring managers rejecting candidates based on online content.

• Compliance: with GDPR and other regulations that impose heavy penalties for mishandling personal data.

The workshop walked participants through simple, actionable steps:

• Phone privacy checks and limiting app permissions

• Browser hygiene: blocking trackers, managing cookies, and clearing caches

• Profile audits: Googling yourself to see what the internet really says about you

• Reviewing biometric data policies for wearables and health apps

Why universities and enterprises should act now:

• Cybersecurity isn't just IT’s job: every employee is part of your digital defense.

• A workforce that understands digital identity risks is less likely to fall victim to phishing, data theft, or brand-damaging breaches.

• Privacy-aware staff help ensure regulatory compliance and reduce the risk of costly legal exposure.

The key takeaway? You don’t need a cybersecurity degree to protect your digital self or your business. You need awareness, simple practices, and leadership commitment to make them part of everyday work culture.

In an era where 1,500+ data brokers track users online and over a billion records were breached in a single year, protecting digital identity is not just a technical measure - it's a business imperative.