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I didn't expect engineers to have global access to user data, which is what the article seems to say. Is it actually the case?

• raxxorrax 5y ago
  As an engineer I very often have access to private data. The only thing protecting it was that most engineers understand privacy and the implication of modern data collection that is slowly undermined by companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and co and the education the newer generation tend to enjoy. I worked on medical devices and with sensitive medical data. In this case even pictures of naked people for skin diagnostics. This data cannot be leaked so enhanced security mechanisms were in place. Wouldn't have hindered an engineer really wanting to leak the data and I think there is no way to prevent them from doing so while analyzing data. So yes, it is actually the case. Ironically, user data access might be most restrictive in companies like Facebook, especially because their business model is somewhat opposed to restricting access to private information and they know they need to make up for it. They also have employees that aren't really trimmed on the importance of privacy, which is showing in my opinion. A lot of administrators usually have access to all data in small and medium sized companies. And everywhere else there is at least someone who has. The only exception are end-to-end encrypted blobs for storage applications, but you cannot be sure of that since governments are currently working to get rid of that and the provider could easily lie to you and verification is almost impossible.