I was recently interviewed by L1 Nieuws's Christa Koeyvoets for her Dutch-language article titled How do you avoid becoming a victim of a data breach? “Virtually impossible”, published on 20 August 2025.

The article a reality that is often uncomfortable but increasingly evident - in a society that relies heavily on digital services, it is becoming ever more difficult for individuals to fully protect themselves from the consequences of a data breach. Personal data is processed across complex networks of organisations, platforms, and service providers, and this creates vulnerabilities that are not always visible to the people affected.

My contribution to the article focuses on the broader context in which these incidents occur. Cybercrime is no longer a future concern. It is a present and structural challenge, affecting both private and public sectors, including healthcare, education, transport, and other critical infrastructures. As our dependence on digital systems increases, so too does the exposure to cyber threats.

I also underline that organisations handling personal data, especially sensitive data such as health information, must take their responsibilities seriously. Security and data protection should not be treated as afterthoughts, but should be embedded from the outset in governance, systems design, and operational practices.

At the same time, this is not only an institutional issue. As a society, we need to strengthen our cyber hygiene, improve digital awareness, and reflect more carefully on how we share data, including in connection with emerging technologies such as AI.

The article offers an important opportunity to reflect on the shared responsibility required to improve digital resilience, while recognising that individuals alone cannot carry this burden.

You can read the full article here:
https://www.l1nieuws.nl/nieuws/2971708/hoe-voorkom-je-dat-je-slachtoffer-wordt-van-een-datalek-vrijwel-onmogelijk