Did you know you have a twin? In fact, most of us do. The twin I am talking about is not a biological twin however, nor an identical one necessarily, but a digital one. Now, of course, there are some of you fortunate enough to indeed have a biologically related twin that is relatively nice to you.  In this case, you would have two twins. The twin I am here to introduce you to is your digital twin that resides on multiple databases, throughout multiple jurisdictions, used by multiple applications, people, and organizations. This digital twin is ever changing as well as more information about the real you is filtered through the official networks and added to your digital twin’s store of personal information about the real you.

Whether or not this twin is an evil twin, or a good twin, depends a lot on how personal information about you, the real you, has been handled in the past. Further, whether this twin is identical to the real you also depends on how your personal information was handled in the past. Think of this twin as the authoritative reference of you, the real you. When you engage in official business activities that require the other party to vouch your credentials or verify your personal information or history, they knock on the door of your digital twin to ask whether what you, the real you, say is accurate.  Now if this digital twin of yours is a good twin, and identical to the real you, they will give the nod of affirmation that all is good. However, if this digital twin of yours is an evil twin, or short of being identical to the real you, this nod of affirmation may not come as easily. In this very unfortunate case, you may need to contest the accuracy of personal information pertaining to the real you, with that of your digital twin. This can by no means be an easy feat, and can be downright frustrating, and costly.  

Your digital twin is very sensitive, and constructed of complex digital interconnections of information technology systems, and some manual work papers, scattered all over the country you principally reside, and others you have visited or lived. The task of reconciling any discrepancies of personal information that arise between the real you and your digital twin can be daunting when you consider the breadth of this distribution of personal information about you. If this scenario sounds familiar, it is not unlike the unfortunate situation people find themselves in when they fall victim to identity theft.  Those who have gone through this process understand the complexity and costs associated with recovery.

This is a first installment of a series on the topic of data privacy and what you, the real you, can do to promote a healthy relationship with your digital twin. You just might want to get to know this twin of yours.

Stay tuned.