In this interview, Stine Mangor Tornmark, the CEO and Co-founder of Openli, provides insights into the challenges faced by legal teams in managing data privacy and the role of technology in addressing these issues. Stine emphasises the complexities of navigating multiple privacy regulations across jurisdictions while supporting business operations.
Additionally, she highlights the growing volume of data processed by various tools and vendors, making it increasingly difficult to ensure compliance. Stine underscores the potential of technology to identify risks, automate tasks, and streamline data management, enabling legal teams to focus on strategic privacy initiatives and maintain data security.
Merlin Beyts: Can you give us an introduction to yourself and Openli?
Stine Mangor Tornmark: As the CEO and Co-founder of Openli, I’ve found myself immersed in the world of privacy technology. My journey into this field wasn’t something I planned from the start but rather a path that unfolded as I observed the growing importance of data protection in our digital lives.
With businesses increasingly operating online, utilising software, tools, and cloud services, the necessity of understanding and implementing GDPR and privacy measures has never been more critical. This is where Openli steps in, assisting companies in navigating these challenges and ensuring they can focus on growth while maintaining privacy integrity.
My background is in law, having earned a law degree in Denmark and spent six years advising Fortune 500 companies on privacy and tech issues at Plesner Law Firm. This experience provided me with a solid foundation and keen understanding of the complexities surrounding privacy and digitalisation. Following this period, I contributed to building the legal and compliance framework at Trustpilot, growing the team significantly. It was during this time that the concept of Openli began to take shape, driven by a desire to create solutions that make privacy management accessible and straightforward for companies.
In addition to my work with Openli, I’ve had the opportunity to share insights and contribute to discussions on digitalisation, digital trust, and privacy with various organisations, including the Danish Government’s Digitaliseringspartnerskab, the OECD, and others. These experiences have enriched my perspective and underscored the importance of our mission at Openli.
It’s not always easy to balance the demands of advocating for privacy while running a company, but I believe in the importance of our work. Privacy is more than a legal requirement; it’s a commitment to conducting business with integrity and respect for the individual’s right to data protection. At Openli, we’re dedicated to making this a reality for businesses everywhere, helping them build trust with their customers in a digital world.
Merlin Beyts: What are the biggest threats to legal teams from a data privacy perspective?
Stine Mangor Tornmark: With GDPR and other privacy laws, legal teams have to juggle big challenges. One of the biggest being that they have to manage very complex legal frameworks across various jurisdictions while at the same having to support the business.
New privacy laws pop up all the time, and each one has its own set of rules. Teams need to adapt, and it can be a challenge to stay on top.
At the same time, more and more data is being processed and handled. AI tools & LLMs, software, platforms, and integrations all have access to and process a lot of data. Companies are using vendors and tools like never before. Many of these have access to personal data. Figuring out how to handle all that data properly, making sure if/how the vendors are compliant, and making sure that the data isn’t misused, lost, or processed incorrectly is a huge task. In addition, data transfer issues, hefty fines, and a lot of new regulations don’t make it easier for the legal teams.
Merlin Beyts: How is technology shaping the way that organisations can keep personal data secure and protected from breaches?
Stine Mangor Tornmark: Technology can help companies identify potential risks faster and help mitigate them.
Some AI tools can quickly sort through all your data and figure out what needs special handling because of privacy rules. Technology can also help predict and mitigate, e.g., cyber risks. Tools can also help remove repetitive tasks and automate a lot of privacy work. These optimisations help legal teams by enabling them to use their time in ways that can then help their organisation keep personal data secure.
Finally, tools can, of course, also help figure out which data you don’t need anymore and make sure you keep only what’s necessary and nothing more.
In short, technology can really help make it a whole lot easier for businesses to keep personal data safe and sound.
Read full LegalTech Diaries Volume 4: https://www.legaltech-talk.com/legaltechdiaries/volume-4/
