To become a Chief Privacy Officer (CPO), a combination of executive-level business education and specific knowledge of privacy laws is required. Relevant experience in government agencies, non-profit organizations, or companies with privacy policies can also help. The CPO title is relatively new, and there is no specific commercial track to become one. Staying up-to-date with privacy law developments and obtaining certification from organizations like the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) can also be helpful.
You can become a Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) by combining general executive-level business education and experience with specific knowledge of privacy laws in different contexts and across jurisdictions. A mastery of privacy law can be developed through specialized education, such as earning a law degree, or through practical experience, such as working for a government agency that regulates how companies use information. The CPO title is a relatively new creation, so standard requirements are still evolving.
The popularization of the Internet has changed the way companies interact with consumers. Web-based electronic data collection allows companies to compile a vast array of personal information about the people they serve with few controls over what can be done with that information. To protect the public, jurisdictions have passed laws that set out the type of disclosures a company must provide before collecting any information, limit the type of information that can be collected, and determine what they can do with it, with and without permission. The CPO position came about to help companies meet their legal obligations under these new privacy laws.
A CPO is a senior executive. To become a Chief Privacy Officer, you would need the credentials of an executive-level hire. Most senior executives have degrees in business administration, such as management or finance. Many have an advanced degree such as an MBA. Along with educational requirements, a senior executive typically needs seven to ten years of hands-on experience working in the company’s hierarchy.
There is no specific commercial track that has been established as the standard way to become a privacy chief. Since it’s a new title that has been slowly gaining popularity, the people who currently hold these positions got there in a variety of ways. The most logical route is through the legal department. Having a law degree would prove your ability to manage the legal aspects of the position. Another related path would be risk management, as a company’s privacy policy is ultimately a way to manage risk.
Relevant experience can also help you become a privacy boss. There are government agencies in every jurisdiction that regulate corporate compliance with privacy laws. Certain non-profit organizations carry out policy work in this area. Many companies, particularly in the medical and technology sectors, have ongoing and cutting-edge actions on privacy laws that are active in multiple jurisdictions. Time spent in any of these situations can be leveraged for a CPO position.
You should also stay abreast of developments in the privacy law industry as a whole if you want to become a privacy officer. The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) was established in 2000 and offers certification, training and events for people working in the privacy field. IAPP certification is often helpful in obtaining a CPO position, but it is not mandatory.
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