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# Incorporating a consumer protection by design mindset
- URL: https://www.techstories.co/incorporating-a-consumer-protection-by-design-mindset/
- Published: 2024-06-15T14:24:21.000Z
- Updated: 2024-06-15T14:24:21.000Z
- Description: Why businesses should bake consumer protection into their services.
- Author: Paul Mah
- Tags: Cyber Security

Businesses should do more to protect their customers and bake consumer security into their services.

The former deputy Chief Executive of CSA, Ng Hoo Ming suggested this when I spoke with him in March.

His suggestion is more relevant than ever, as Singapore agencies this week [announced](https://www.techstories.co/singapore-govt-agencies-to-use-gov-sg-as-sms-sender-id/) a shift to the protected sender ID of "gov.sg" for SMS.

**Protection by design**

As Hoo Ming observed, current practices don’t offer adequate protection to customers amid today's complex digital landscape.

Consider:

- Money we put in a bank is protected.
- Employee fraud, bank robberies don’t affect us.
- Yet bank accounts can be emptied via online scams.

Sure, the onus is on us to stay updated and vigilant.

Yet businesses employ robust cybersecurity measures to protect their employees; Why can’t they provide stronger safeguards for the customers they claim to care about?

**Erosion of trust**

There is a pressing need for a deeper discussion about how businesses can do more to protect consumers, says Hoo Ming.

A potential problem of doing nothing would be an erosion of trust in institutions and businesses - with potentially disastrous consequences.

It takes great effort to tackle cybercrime and build trust. Some suggestions:

- Countries must work together to tackle cybercrime.
- Governments to provide a secure digital environment.
- Have businesses add a "cyber" section to annual reports.

**Consumer protection by design**

Here's a quote that quipped my interest:

“Businesses must take care of not just their corporate infrastructure, but also adopt a more customer-centric approach to protect consumer transactions, instead of pushing the responsibility back to end-users.”

Today, it would be unthinkable to purchase a car without seat belts. Moreover, some car owners would even be prepared to pay more for a vehicle with additional airbags.

Perhaps a similar approach could be taken for cybersecurity. What do you think?

Read the full article on GovWare [here](https://www.govware.sg/article/call-action-businesses-adopt-consumer-protection-design-mindset?ref=techstories.co).