Steve Blair is the Senior Privacy and Security Test Program Leader at Consumer Reports, where he evaluates connected devices and digital products to uncover privacy and security risks. With a background spanning early internet technology, mobile hardware, and product security, he helps consumers better understand how their data is collected, used, and protected, especially in emerging technologies designed for families and children.

Connected devices designed for kids play a growing role in how families stay connected and informed. GPS trackers, smartwatches, and other apps and tools often promise safety and convenience, yet they also raise questions about how children's data is collected, used, stored, and protected. The challenge is not whether these tools function as intended, but how they handle personal information once they are in use. How can parents gain confidence in the technology their children use every day while avoiding privacy and security risks?

A practical starting point is to read privacy notices and product descriptions, then examine how devices and apps behave in practice. Reviewing default settings, questioning app permissions, and noting how easy privacy controls are to find can help parents manage risk and better understand how a company collects and handles kids' data. These considerations become especially important when children are required to use certain apps or connected devices to participate in school activities or other events.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Steve Blair, Senior Privacy and Security Test Program Leader at Consumer Reports, about privacy and security risks in kids' GPS trackers, wearables, and apps. Steve explains what Consumer Reports found when testing GPS trackers and wearables designed for children, and how hands-on testing helps parents better understand device privacy controls. He shares practical ways parents can assess app privacy and security protections, even without deep technical expertise. And Steve also shares practical privacy and security tips parents can use every day, like keeping devices updated, removing apps when they are no longer needed, and requesting data deletion when app use ends.

Ron De Jesus is the Field Chief Privacy Officer at Transcend, driving practical privacy governance and industry advocacy. He previously led privacy at Grindr, Tinder, and Match Group, built global programs at Tapestry and American Express, founded De Jesus Consulting, and remains an active community leader through the IAPP and LGBTQ Privacy & Tech Network.

Privacy professionals navigate a growing web of privacy regulations and emerging technologies, yet many still rely on manual processes to manage their programs. Teams might track global requirements in spreadsheets and manually triage privacy rights requests. To scale privacy programs effectively, teams need to move beyond manual approaches. So what should privacy teams consider as they adopt automated solutions?

The key to scaling privacy programs efficiently lies in embracing automation and technology that aligns with an organization's broader goals. When privacy leaders secure early buy-in from stakeholders, technology decisions are more likely to support the business beyond basic compliance needs. Teams also need clarity on what they are trying to accomplish, a thorough understanding of where their data lives, and time to evaluate how new tech fits into their existing systems and workflows. Sometimes teams expect third-party privacy tools to work out of the box and solve their compliance needs. However, that is often not the case, and why companies must review and test vendor tech solutions to ensure they accurately meet company requirements.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Ron De Jesus, Field Chief Privacy Officer at Transcend, about transitioning privacy programs from manual processes to automation. Ron emphasizes the importance of internal alignment when adopting privacy technology, discusses the risks of treating privacy tools as plug-and-play compliance solutions, and highlights the need for companies to review vendor tech solutions against their specific requirements and legal obligations. He also explains how the privacy community helps shape his view of how teams operationalize privacy in practice and shares his prediction for what's in store for privacy professionals in 2026.

Talar Herculian Coursey is the GC and VP HR for ComplyAuto, a SaaS company serving auto dealerships in the US. Talar was previously the GC for Vista Ford and a file clerk, associate, and partner at the national labor and employment law firm, Fisher Phillips LLP.

Talar is licensed to practice law in California and Utah. She is also a CIPP, CIPM, certified yoga instructor, certified life coach, and a retired dog walker.

Knowing the types of data a company collects is essential for building strong privacy and security practices. Many organizations collect a wide range of sensitive information, including financial data, identity documents, and data created through connected technologies. Employees often rely on text messages and mobile apps to communicate, creating touchpoints where sensitive information is shared with third parties. So, how can general counsels and privacy pros safeguard sensitive information while accounting for the risks introduced by third-party vendors?

Protecting sensitive information starts with establishing policies and processes that reflect how data flows through an organization and understanding how teams communicate with consumers. That's why it's important to provide employees with secure, encrypted channels when communicating with customers. Customized training is equally important, and using gamification and tailored phishing simulations helps engage employees, deepen their understanding of the sensitive information they handle, and improve their ability to recognize potential privacy and security risks. By pairing these tools with training that is specific to the work environment, general counsels and privacy pros can help employees stay vigilant and reduce the likelihood of privacy and security incidents.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Talar Herculian Coursey, General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources at ComplyAuto, about managing privacy and security risk tied to data collection practices. Drawing on her experience in the automotive dealership industry, Talar explains why understanding the types of data companies collect is critical to building effective privacy and security programs. She explains how companies can strengthen their defenses through encrypted communication tools and customized employee training programs. Talar also outlines the significant risks posed by third-party vendors and offers practical tips for managing these risks.

Teresa "T" Troester-Falk has over 20 years of experience building privacy programs that work when resources are limited and timelines are real. She led initiatives at DoubleClick (Google), Epsilon, Nielsen, and Nymity (TrustArc) before founding BlueSky Privacy and BlueSky PrivacyStack. Today she creates practical tools and systems that help privacy professionals step into their role with confidence and give executives decisions they can act on. Through her writing and teaching, she brings clarity to complex requirements and shows how privacy can succeed in practice.

Privacy professionals step into their roles with foundational knowledge, yet often without the support needed to apply it in practice. They are sometimes expected to build and maintain privacy programs without a budget, authority, or a clear plan. This gap creates daily uncertainty, especially for newly certified privacy professionals who enter the field with little operational experience. So how can privacy professionals move through these challenges and build programs they can defend with confidence?

Building a functioning privacy program requires making decisions in gray areas and moving forward without waiting for perfect information. Privacy pros can start by focusing on high-risk areas first and documenting their decision-making process using a three-pillar approach. This framework helps professionals explain the decision they made, maintain what was decided, and defend it with evidence. Clear ownership and accountability ensure processes hold over time. With the right operational structure in place, privacy pros can move privacy programs forward even when resources are tight.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Teresa Troester-Falk, Founder of BlueSky Privacy and BlueSky PrivacyStack, about building effective privacy programs with limited resources. Teresa explains how a simple decision-making framework can help new and seasoned privacy professionals work through ambiguity. She also shares strategies for prioritizing privacy work when budgets are tight and expectations are high, and explains why establishing ownership and operational processes are essential for sustaining long-term privacy success.

Monique Priestley is a Vermont State Representative focused on data privacy, AI, right to repair, and the future of work. Monique serves on the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee, Joint IT Oversight Committee, and multiple national tech policy task forces. She was named a 2024 EPIC Champion of Freedom.

State privacy laws are evolving faster than ever, yet the dynamics shaping them often remain out of view for most organizations. Technology shifts quickly, and the issues raised in proposed privacy and AI bills require far more research and preparation than the calendar allows. That's why lawmakers work year-round to understand these complex technologies and collaborate with their peers in other states to refine definitions and bill provisions, ensuring that appropriate privacy protections are in place.

Many states entered 2025 with strong privacy bills on the table, yet progress slowed as industry counterproposals and competing drafts drew support away from stronger models, making it harder for legislators to keep consumer privacy protections intact. Vermont State Representative Monique Priestley has seen this firsthand and brings a unique lens to this dynamic, drawing on her discussions with the public and her collaborative work with lawmakers across the country. As public concerns about privacy and AI grow and privacy laws evolve, companies will need to be proactive about the steps they take to protect people's data and be clear about how those protections work.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Monique Priestley, Vermont State Representative, about the realities that shape state-level privacy and AI legislation. Monique discusses the behind-the-scenes work required to educate lawmakers and build strong, technology-informed privacy and AI bills, and what might change in the year ahead. She also shares insights into the public's rising concerns about how their data is used, highlighting the steps companies can take to build trust.

Mariette Clardy-Davis is Assistant General Counsel at Primerica, providing strategic guidance on the Securities Business. Recognizing AI competence as a professional duty, she launched "Unboxing Generative AI for In-House Lawyers" virtual workshops and an online directory empowering lawyers to move from AI overwhelm to practical application through hands-on learning.

Legal teams are turning to generative AI to speed up their work, yet many struggle with getting consistent, usable results. Learning AI skills requires hands-on practice with prompting frameworks, styling guides, and instructions that improve output quality. That's why attorneys need creative training approaches that help these skills stick and carry over into their day-to-day work.

Building AI fluency isn't about mastering the technology itself. It's about shifting mindset and approach. One common challenge legal teams encounter is expecting AI to deliver consistent outputs every time, yet AI doesn't work like a copy machine. It responds through patterns, so the same prompt might produce different results. That's why creative, narrative-based training is effective for learning prompting frameworks. When attorneys pair detailed prompt instructions with gold standard examples, AI tools get the reference points they need for tone, style, and structure. Saving strong prompts into a library creates leverage and reduces the time spent rebuilding instructions for recurring tasks. This helps attorneys reduce rework, improve accuracy, and shift from basic efficiency tasks to work that supports strategy and collaboration.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Mariette Clardy-Davis, Assistant General Counsel at Primerica, about how in-house legal teams can embrace generative AI education. Mariette explains how creative, story-driven workshops make AI learning more engaging and why understanding prompting frameworks is essential for consistent results. She discusses common misconceptions lawyers have about generative AI tools and how building a task-based directory with reusable prompts helps legal teams save time on repetitive work. Mariette also explains how attorneys can use AI not just to speed up tasks but to support more substantive legal work.

Khurram Chhipa currently serves as General Counsel at Halborn, a leading cybersecurity company in the Web3 space. With expertise spanning blockchain security, compliance, and digital risk management, he brings a unique perspective to the intersection of law and technology. Outside of work, Khurram enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Artificial intelligence is changing how cybersecurity teams detect and respond to threats. What once required manual monitoring has evolved into an adaptive solution that uses predictive modeling to identify risks sooner. While AI can strengthen security defenses, it also raises questions about accuracy and the need for human oversight.

For legal and security teams working in fast-moving sectors like blockchain, AI offers efficiency yet also introduces new risks. Large language models (LLMs) can help general counsels generate contracts and prepare for negotiations, yet they require human oversight to spot and correct errors. That's why companies need to develop clear playbooks, train teams, and implement a continuous review process to ensure responsible AI use. For security teams, the same principle applies. While predictive AI tools can identify threats earlier, security teams should also test their incident response readiness through tabletop exercises and encourage employees to adopt a don't trust, verify" mindset to guard against threats like deepfakes.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Khurram Chhipa, General Counsel at Halborn, about how AI is transforming cybersecurity. Khurram explains how AI is reshaping threat detection, why human oversight is essential when using AI in legal and security contexts, and provides practical strategies for implementing safeguards. He also describes the growing AI arms race and its impact on cybersecurity, and he provides tips on how companies can mitigate AI deepfake threats through custom training and implementing advanced security measures.

Mark Weinstein is a successful tech entrepreneur, board member, and consultant, and one of the visionary inventors of social networking. He is the author of Restoring Our Sanity Online (Wiley, 2025), a book endorsed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Steve Wozniak. Mark is the Founder of MeWe, the first social network with a Privacy Bill of Rights, which grew to over 20 million members. He also founded SuperFamily.com and SuperFriends.com, early social networks recognized by PC Magazine as "Top 100" sites.

He is an inventor of 15 groundbreaking digital advertising patents. Mark has delivered the landmark TED Talk, "The Rise of Surveillance Capitalism." He is frequently interviewed and published in major media outlets around the world.

Beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, Mark has chaired the New Mexico Accountancy Board and served as an Adjunct Marketing Professor at the University of New Mexico. He holds an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.

The internet began as a way to connect family, friends, and communities. Over time, platforms shifted towards surveillance capitalism, where users' personal information can be monetized and people can be targeted and even manipulated. Social media and AI now shape what people see, think, and buy, while algorithms quietly learn how to influence our choices. As technology advances, how can companies and individuals alike protect privacy and rebuild trust in the systems that connect us?

As one of the pioneers of social networking, Mark Weinstein has seen this transformation firsthand. Early models were built around community and connection, while later models monetized personal information for targeting and profit. The next phase focuses on stronger privacy controls, data portability, and user choice. Building safer digital experiences means companies need to avoid unnecessary data collection and manipulative design tactics, and to communicate transparently about how personal information is used and shared. Individuals can also play a role by supporting user ID verification to make social media safer and by teaching children critical thinking skills to help them combat misinformation and manipulation online.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels chat with Mark Weinstein, tech entrepreneur, author, board member, and consultant, about rethinking privacy and control in the digital age. Mark reflects on the lessons learned from early social network models and discusses the evolution of the internet from connection-driven communities to surveillance capitalism, explaining how current models exploit user data. He explores his vision for Web4 and its new approach centered on data ownership and portability. He also offers practical advice for protecting children from online harms and the importance of fostering critical thinking in the age of AI.