Greetings from Portsmouth, NH!

Summer is nearly upon us and high school seniors across the country are donning their caps and gowns, set for a new path as young adults. Perhaps some of them are your sons and daughters. I wish them well and hope they can help shape a positive future for all of us.

Here at IAPP headquarters, many of us are stoked that the World Cup is finally underway. True, it’s a shame the U.S. didn’t qualify, but there’s sure to be a ton of great games in the coming weeks. This year’s tournament is being held in Russia, which has prompted U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director William Evanina to issue a warning to Americans traveling there. And he didn’t mince words: “If you’re planning on taking a mobile phone, laptop, PDA, or other electronic device with you – make no mistake – any data on those devices (especially your personally identifiable information) may be accessed by the Russian government or cyber criminals.” Though corporate and government officials are most at risk, Evanina added, “don’t assume you’re too insignificant to be targeted.”

Alas, our brave new world is upon us, where traveling to certain countries means buying “burner” phones like a seedy character from "Better Call Saul" or "Breaking Bad." Will this be the new norm for global travelers? I love to travel and my phone helps me get around, find worthwhile restaurants, and most importantly, the good record stores. I’d hate to have to refer back to our pre-digital world when on the road.

That isn’t to say I don’t like to go offline. I’ve been stocking up on my summer reading list. I’m still old school with books: I’d rather have the paper copy than the digital. There’s just something visceral and private about holding a physical book that I find preferable.

After months of GDPR preparations, I’m sure you could use some time at the beach with a good book. Maybe you’ll kill two birds with one stone by catching some sun while reading up on that privacy whitepaper you keep pushing off or studying for a new IAPP certification. Or maybe, if you’re like me, you’ll put privacy down for a couple hours and pick up some good fiction.