Digital freedom: Why 2023 was a year of challenges

The cybersecurity arena in 2023 saw considerable shifts related to digital liberty, covering key issues such as GDPR compliance, the worldwide implications of internet restrictions, and official requests to Google plus data safety dilemmas in dictatorships. Surfshark's Research Hub detailed these fluctuations in an in-depth study. Agneska Sablovskaja, Surfshark's Lead Researcher tells Digital Journal, "Our 2023 digital liberty study delves into GDPR adherence and technological ethics, emphasizing the necessity for an intricate handling of mainstream technologies. The challenges brought forth by Meta's Threads and the 'Pay or Okay' proposal demand a reassessment of contemporary digital plans. We remain dedicated to nurturing an ethical digital ecosystem that gives importance to user confidentiality and accountable tech usage – innovatively respecting everyone's unalterable privacy rights."

The rise of the ChatGPT in 2023 raised questions about the security of user data. Sablovskaja notes that fears arose regarding dubious data gathering practices and safety measures of the AI titan. This led to Italy temporarily banning ChatGPT and the establishment of ChatGPT task forces by US Department of Homeland Security and the European Data Protection Board. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, reportedly used private information without approval and lacked age verification mechanism for minors. Meta encountered criticism over possible GDPR breaches due to their 'Pay or Okay' model in the EU, escalating arguments over legality and user data safeguarding.

Sablovskaja's research also found that democracies have been at the forefront of data protection initiatives, while autocracies lacking stringent data safety regulations lagged. Hungary emerged as a distinct outlier, benefiting from adherence to GDPR protocols due to its EU membership, highlighting the importance of legislative structures.

Another challenge in the digital world was faced by 4.2 billion people grappling with internet outages in the first half of 2023, particularly in countries like China and UAE where such restrictions are commonplace. The research also identified a rising trend in government requests to Google for content removal, with 91,000 requests in 2022 - a nearly 13-fold increase since 2013. This increase is largely driven by Russia which requested 215,000 removals during this time, dwarfing other countries, including South Korea which submitted far fewer requests.

Dr. Tim Sandle serves as Digital Journal's Science News Editor at Large, specializing in coverage related to science, technology, environmental, business, and healthcare. As a practicing microbiologist and author, Sandle also maintains an interest in history, politics, and current events.