Privacy Matters: Understanding Digital Privacy in Fintech with EMI Course in Communication

On April 29, 2024, Kunchou Tsai, a distinguished lawyer renowned for his proficiency in various domains including banking, international investment, and financial technology, delivered an insightful lecture titled “Fintech & Digital Privacy: Exploring the Intersection of GDPR, Digital Identity, and Privacy in FinTech”, as part of the Public Policy and Public Affairs class offered by Professor Gina Tsai, a course that is sponsored by the Ministry of Education’s The Program on Bilingual Education for Students in College (BEST) and aims to pave the way for the college student for the future career or overseas study by enrolling them in the English-taught course.

Mr. Tsai began the lecture by introducing the concepts of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Digital Identity (DID), highlighting their crucial role in enhancing user privacy and control over personal data in the context of FinTech. To illustrate their importance, he took the example of the ‘Worldcoin’ project initiated by OpenAI, where people can get cryptocurrency for free by providing their personal biometric information as a form of digital identity to the private company. This example emphasized the need for increased attention to the regulation of the collection and protection of users’ privacy data by FinTech companies.

However, Mr. Tsai also addressed the challenges of striking a balance between innovation and privacy compliance in FinTech. While advancing online financial services technologically is relatively straightforward, ensuring robust privacy protection, particularly for startups, is hard and costly. “Sometimes, we have to learn through trial and error”, noted Mr. Tsai, hoping that a careful balance between the pursuit of protecting personal data and encouraging innovation can be found in future efforts.

When discussing the current status of FinTech development in Taiwan, Mr. Tsai introduced FIDO (Fast Identity Online), a novel digital identity system that replaces passwords with personal biometrics such as fingerprints, facial and iris recognition, offering a more secure and user-friendly experience. He noted the growing acceptance of FIDO by financial institutions, aiming to provide more convenient services while prioritizing consumer data protection and maintaining trust with regulatory authorities.

During the panel discussion session, Mr. Tsai encouraged students to openly share their personal experiences and concerns regarding privacy infringements in their daily lives. Kevin Liao, a second-year student from the Communication College, shared that he had been receiving harassing calls since his personal information was leaked by a corporation. Maximilian, an exchange student from Germany, recounted his experience of having to scan his passport, containing personal data, in order to gain internet access during his travels in China. The speaker addressed each student's sharing individually, enhancing their awareness of the risks of personal data leakage in everyday life.

“Your personal information is valuable. Secure it carefully, otherwise you may become the next victim.” With these closing remarks, Mr. Tsai gave attendees a sense that privacy protection is a critical issue in the digital age. He reiterated the significance and trends of personal privacy within the FinTech landscape, encouraging heightened vigilance and awareness in the protection of their personal data.

The Public Policy and Public Affairs class is designed to enhance students' comprehension of fundamental theories and practical principles relevant to public policy and public affairs. It equips students with the skills to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, including analyzing and assessing public policy decision-making, stakeholder management and communication. Mr. Tsai's enlightening lecture provided students with invaluable insights into FinTech industrial policy issues, affording them the opportunity for practice promoting and advocating for related policy matters.

The Program on Bilingual Education for Students in College (BEST) is a project launched by the Ministry of Education in response to its blueprint for bilingual policy. The College of Communication at NCCU joined BEST starting in 2024 spring and initiated “International Leadership Courses in Communication.” Based on the existing curriculum, the International Leadership Courses in Communication expanded its English-taught courses both qualitatively and quantitatively, covering three main domains with a clear structure: International News & Communication, Strategic Communication, and Communication & Technology, to enhance students’ English proficiency and empower their future competitiveness. In 2024 spring, the College of Communication has offered six classes taught by experts pioneering either in academics or in industry, while in the following semester the number of course will increase to seven, in the hope of attracting more NCCU students who are keen to excel in various aspects of communication by taking these meticulously designed courses. Click here to find out a complete course list: https://reurl.cc/ezOLzb

The speaker, Kunchou Tsai, opened the lecture.

The students discussed their experiences regarding privacy infringements in their daily lives.

The students shared their experiences and had interactions with the speaker.

Group photo of the speaker and the attendee.

The poster for the International Leadership Courses in Communication for the current semester.