Watts Involved

Watts Involved


Episode 155 | Ross Saunders | Data Privacy and the big WhatsApp conspiracy

February 11, 2021

On this episode I chat with Ross about data privacy and the storm in a teacup that is WhatsApp.  We also look at Telegram and Signal and discuss the implications of WhatsApp for business.
Ross specialises in data protection and information security, raising awareness and educating staff on the human aspect to what can, and does, go wrong in data protection. As an international speaker, facilitator, and consultant, Ross demystifies technical, security, and legal topics to make them accessible at all levels of the organisation.
He started as a paperboy in 1999, perhaps subconsciously influenced by the video game of the same title… His skill improved with practice (both at video games and real life), and his love for games saw him move into the field of IT. He then moved through a range of technical positions, with a brief dalliance in software development. Since then, Ross has spent numerous years in strategic management for a multitude of multinational software companies.
Ross has a particular passion for data privacy, having been a victim of identity theft and seeing first hand the impact of data breaches on both individuals and organisations. He aims to help organisations manage their data effectively, avoiding the pitfalls they may not be aware of.
His “happy place” is the intersection between business, technology, and people. He has a passion for helping companies get the best out of their business process and technology, all while improving the way that teams of people interact with these systems and each other. Ross loves simplifying the mysteries of technology and enabling people across the business spectrum, be it via speaking, training, or consulting.
Ross holds a Masters Degree in the Management of Technology and Innovation, is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E) and is an EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). He is a past National President of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA), and is a Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).