The importance of personal data has gradually become known to people in recent years. After companies collect this data, how they process and store it internally, that is, data governance, we believe will only become more and more important. Therefore, we believe that FST Network, a company that focuses on helping companies optimize and comply with data processing procedures, has great development potential.

Over the past 20 years, with the advancement of technology, wireless technology, various Internet devices and software, people have more and more digital data. In recent years, people have gradually realized the importance of these records, so governments have also introduced relevant laws, such as Europe's GDPR and Taiwan's Personal Data Protection Act in 2010, in order to strengthen consumers' rights to their own data. Major platforms have also imposed more and more restrictions on the acquisition of personal data. For example, in the early days of Facebook, almost all data could be obtained by vendors. Now, not only do they need to clearly state what data needs to be used, but a lot of data is no longer open. Apple's iOS also has more and more restrictions on App vendors and advertisers obtaining user data.

But why is this data so important? Or why do people want this data now? Mainly because of the advancement of technology, the gradual maturity of the application of artificial intelligence and big data, it is becoming easier and easier for people to extract useful information from these complex data and create greater business value. A famous example is the Cambridge incident in the US election manipulation. This incident also made everyone more aware of the importance of data protection and what value or harm these data may bring.

Because data can bring more and more value, all companies, big and small, are working hard to collect data. However, when collecting data, it is important to use it safely. From system-level data security measures to internal personnel usage processes, every link may cause the risk of personal data leakage. In the face of such a situation and trend, there are three aspects of data governance that need attention:

1. Reasonableness and compliance of data collection Why can such data be collected? Why is it necessary to collect such data? Is consent obtained for the collection of such data? These are questions that not only users or relevant regulatory agencies would like to know, but also the internal management of enterprises should pay special attention to, otherwise unexpected problems may arise in the subsequent maintenance and use of data.

2. Data authority rules and exchange Due to data security considerations, when obtaining personnel data, it is more important to provide only relevant data based on the personnel's level. Even the data can be provided after de-identification to reduce the risk of data leakage during data processing. Even in the future when there is cross-company and cross-business data exchange, how to comply with the user's wishes and legal regulations and efficiently complete the data transfer requires serious consideration.

3. Different data can be generated according to different business needs. As the generation and collection of data are changing with each passing day, data that was not thought of in the past and data that was not thought of as possibly related are constantly being generated. Therefore, how to have a framework that helps data be used more efficiently and helps users understand the operating platform they need will be a great demand.

Data governance is not just a demand of Taiwanese companies, but a global demand. FST Network not only has a team with rich international practical experience, but as a startup company, it now has multinational partners in Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Japan, etc. We believe that they can bring Taiwan's experience and talents to the world and create greater value.