As December approaches, the debate over privacy and data security that we have, as the government and private sector press forward with new ways to access, collect and hold our data, does not look like it's settling down.

Australia has seen the opt-out period to the MyHealthRecord extended, while Parliament has made amendments to address some of the privacy concerns, including restrictions on access. Amendments to the encryption bill are still the subject of scrutiny given the potential for the proposed access and assistance regime to undermine the security of encrypted devices and undermine press freedom.

Reflecting on the Cathay Pacific cyberattack shows that a large data asset can also be a liability; strategies to balance the two will become one of the key challenges for boards.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand privacy commissioner is seeking more funds from the government to support his office to effectively implement the changes to the NZ Privacy Act. What privacy model will India adopt in the wake of a massive uptake of data and internet services, as well as the impact of globalization?

Finally, start brushing up on edge computing, folks (as in the edge of the cloud), which looks set to be the next wave of machine-learning technology. These are just a few of the issues privacy professionals can mull over as we race into the holiday season.