The Business Case for Privacy and the Cost of Mishandling Data
Privacy compliance carries real cost, but mishandling personal data can be far more expensive in fines, breach costs, and lost consumer trust. Privacy is increasingly viewed as a core business priority that drives loyalty and earnings.
Almost every business handles personal data, and those handling sensitive data (medical, financial, children's) face a higher bar. Businesses operating globally face cross-border data issues governed by multiple privacy and security regimes.
Compliance is costly: an IAPP-EY survey found companies reported spending more than $1 million per year on GDPR compliance after the GDPR took effect in 2018. The ITIF estimated in 2022 that if all 50 states enacted privacy laws, yearly out-of-state compliance costs could reach roughly $100 billion per year.
Mishandling data can be even costlier. IBM found in 2022 that the global average cost of a data breach exceeded $4 million, with higher costs in health care and financial industries. Studies link consumer trust to purchase decisions; Edelman found ethics matter more than competence in building trust, and Cisco's 2022 survey found roughly 75 percent of consumers would not buy from a business they did not trust with their data.
Viewed through the lens of trust, privacy is a core business priority that can increase consumer loyalty, improve brand perception, and lead to higher earnings - not merely a cost center.