Ethical Code By Design Goes A Long Way

Description

Blog with Luminati---now called Bright Data---CEO Or Lencher

Photo snapshots as well as text have been uploaded for accessability convenience below because webpage was first moved to https://brightdata.com/blog/Leadership/collecting-data-business, and later on, removed.

Note that clickable URLs such as company DNA and ethical code are italic in the text below for convenience.

Subject

Ethical Code By Design Goes A Long Way
This is how it works at Bright Data Networks
Or Lenchner - We Love Data - indoor selfie at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Or Lenchner | CEO
27-Oct-2019

I’m a great believer in spreading knowledge. This is especially true when it comes to data. Like every importantdomain in the industry, it’s based on research, learning from experience, trying and improving and then making itwork across markets.

If you ask me, this is a key ingredient in Bright Data Network’s secret sauce. We try and sometimes we fail but wealways, always improve till we reach the best results.

This commitment to the data collection domain does not start and end with Bright Data. From collaborating withresearch institutes and universities, to mentoring new start-ups, to running ongoing workshops – we continue aconstant exchange. Sharing of knowledge is something we are all very dedicated to. We see it as part of our DNA, our culture, our ethical code by design.

Following an ongoing partnership where we’ve actively assisted in the university’s research, Doctor Rob Loke, of the Amsterdam University of Applied Science, recently told me about his newly launched course: Online Data Mining that is part of a master of science program called Master Digital Driven Business. A course that is all abouttransforming data and emerging technologies into meaningful actions and business value. 

Naturally, I was intrigued. Loke kindly invited me to run a data collection class focused on the ethics and privacy ofextracting data in the mass. A topic, we at Bright Data, feel very strongly about.

When it comes to extracting data, yes, there may be easy wins but if you are not careful in keeping your ethicalcode intact, your success will be very short-lived. 

Data collection, may not always be a straightforward topic to discuss, especially these days. As a CEO of acompany that enables
data collection to some of the largest enterprises worldwide, I see it as our primeresponsibility to share our experience on how we remain open, transparent and most importantly trustworthy and ethical. A tiny revealing tip – it is tightly linked to your organization’s culture.

So, early in the morning on a cold winter day last week, I traveled to Amsterdam.

Arriving at the university to meet the class, a “we love data” sign welcomed me. This was especially encouraging.

Assistant professor Rob Loke met me and took me over to his class. The program master he created is incrediblycomprehensive so I knew this would be a learning experience also for me.

Before I even started telling the students about Bright Data and its vast IP proxy network, it was important that weopenly discuss the current needs for data harvesting: How to ensure you remain a trust and safety operation?

Fact 1: Data is a desirable product wanted by all businesses of all sizes and sectors. Today, you rely on accurate data to make accurate business decisions as well as remain competitive!

At Bright Data, we provide open-source data collection solutions for multiple use-cases. Whether it’s for large e-commerce businesses wanting to keep their pricing strategy attractive or looking to ensure that brand reputationstays intact across multiple channels; or ad agencies looking to fight ad-fraud by tracing the digital journey andglobal placement of their ads, testing as real consumers do. These are just examples for over 20 use-casesexercised daily, which without our network made of typical consumer IPs (who have willingly opted-in), theseorganizations would not be able to reach the data they need. They would simply be blocked. Important to statethat this data is openly available to each and every one of us as individual consumers.

Fact 2: While the benefits are clear, collecting data at scale carries profound responsibilities. You must build adefined ethical operation by design which is focused on safety and privacy.

What am I referring to? We, at Bright Data, make sure our network remains safe. We run comprehensive securityprocedures and keep monitoring our network, always. This is especially needed since we do not access and don’tallow access to individuals’ data.

The students in Amsterdam, intrigued by our network, wanted to know how we obtain the millions of consumer IPaddresses we use globally. The answer is simple. Like we do everything else, we make sure we stick to thetransparency and trust. The millions of consumers, opting-in to our network, are completely ‘in the know’ – theyknow what they are opting-into, they know what they are getting in return (ad-free applications) and they knowthey can opt-out at any given time.

So what else did we discuss? As the saying goes, ‘time flies when you’re having fun’, we got deeply intocompliance and into our User compliance evaluation (Know Your Customer) process. We talked about the “noreselling” policy and our zero tolerance for fraud and malicious actions – the approach we exercise at Bright Databy immediately blocking any suspicious action that appears in our database.

We all agreed that data collection today carries great responsibility and requires a certain type of DNA andorganizational culture. An ethical code must be implemented from the inside out – this is a critical element inmaking sure your business thrives for the long term.

The students of the Amsterdam University of Applied Science agreed. Here’s what they had to say: One student sent me this quote: “I think it is pretty cool of them (Bright Data) to stick to their ethical code and not leverage their user’s data like plenty of other companies do.”

MSc student, Floor van Ameyde: “They (Bright Data) don’t fake data, they catch the data”

As for my role as a CEO, the students remembered what I always try to practice – listening, learning from mistakes and remaining open to other ideas:

MSc student Jakub Mudrik: “I liked it when Lenchner as a CEO said that he is not always right and he listens to his employees. He admitted that he made many business-related mistakes. They (Bright Data) analyzed these mistakes and learned from them.”

Thank you Dr. Rob Loke and the students of the Master Digital Driven Business program at the Amsterdam University of Applied Science!

Fact 3: This was a truly amazing experience and an excellent opportunity to learn and exchange pioneering ideas!

After all, an additional secret sauce to success is one we all share – the love for data!

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Or Lenchner | CEO

Ever since his appointment as Bright Data's CEO, Or Lenchner, has 
continued to expand the company’s market base, as a data
collection operator, dedicated to maintaining the openness,
transparency, and integrity of the online ecosystem. Prior to his
career at Bright Data, Lenchner founded and managed several webbased
businesses, developing digital assets and online marketing
programs. Joining Bright Data as head of product development,
Lenchner’s career and evolvement at the company has been driven
by his firm belief in a transparent, ethical-by-design web
environment benefiting both, enterprises/businesses and
consumers. Or is a young CEO and has a passion for data insights
and using them to drive business growth.