Ensuring Data Security in Smart Communities: The Importance of Privacy in Digital Society Management

This article has been contributed by San Banerjee, Co-Founder & CEO ADDA.io.

As more residential communities in India embrace digital platforms for community management, visitor management and accounting, data security has become a critical concern. With residents sharing sensitive information—personal details, financial transactions, visitor logs, and more — ensuring the privacy of this data is a huge responsibility.

The Importance of Secure Community Management Apps

Today, we have software platforms that serve as a communication channel between committee members, employees, and society members, along with functions like capturing details of visitor entries and the community help desk. These applications, which make use of cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence, give the people who live in the community a sense of security. In addition to providing security, these apps offer a number of communal living amenities.

Residents can quickly ask for assistance from neighbours and the community or property management staff by using these apps. Residents can also contact emergency response teams for assistance in case of an emergency. Conflicts are decreased since local inhabitants have easy access to all information pertaining to community norms. They can book common amenities for their own use, remain up to date on all significant property upgrades, and learn about all neighbourhood activities and services thanks to these apps.

The Dangers of Free Community Apps

While the right technologies can provide innumerable advantages, choosing the wrong software can cause harm, too. For example, many housing societies opt for free community management apps, assuming they provide value without cost. However, the reality is far from it. Free apps rely mainly on advertising revenue, which means they collect and monetise resident data. Unassuming residents often click on baits in the App promising freebies, without clearly understanding the extent to which their data would be shared with third parties. This exposes the residents to substantial amounts of spam and other hassles.

Risks of Data Monetisation and Spam

The least any apartment resident can do is to stay away from Free Community Apps. Yes, many of these Free Apps claim that they do not share your data without your permission. But the problem is that you would never realise how they would take permission from you - all your personal and visitor data can get passed on to third parties due to some unintentional click or tap somewhere inside the App. Using Free Community Apps means you are constantly living under this fear.

Most smart communities are hence shifting from ad-based platforms to subscription-based clean product platforms. Associations are realising that the risks of keeping their community on Free Apps are many. Not only does data security go for a toss, residents also feel trapped - on one hand, they keep getting spammed from these community apps, on the other hand, they are hesitant to completely uninstall the App, as then they miss out on visitor notifications.

The Hidden Costs of Ad-Based Apps

Marketers who used to welcome the idea of using Community Apps as an advertising channel have realised that putting Ads in Community Apps does not give great returns. They are willing to pay much higher for Physical branding as in Elevators, Lobbies, Events, etc.

It was seen that these free-to-use apps sent multiple ads during the day, which can also lead to the loss of important information. Consider the scenario where a wire near the swimming pool gets exposed due to heavy rain or a storm. The citizens are at great risk from this. A crucial notice warning neighbours to stay away from the area is sent out as committee members and community personnel collaborate to address the issue. This information is available to all residents of a community via the app. The ones who get constant ads miss out on the information due to the inundation of notifications throughout the day, potentially risking the lives of the residents. However, those using ad-free apps will never miss the communication, as they know any message coming via this app is important.

Shifting to Subscription-Based Platforms

Hence, now Smart Associations are keeping their Community App free of Ads so Residents are not spammed. They are using the Free Community Apps as Ad agencies, asking them to send advertisements which will be published on the elevators and, lobby as well. This gives them the Win-Win. No nonsense society platform as well as Advertisement revenue, which is often higher than what they had when trapped in the ad-based community software.

Addressing the Bigger Picture of Data Privacy Risks

As we discuss the risks of using Free Community Apps, let us, for a minute, however, look at the overall risks of using digital platforms, which is true for any digital platform you use. We have had data breach incidents happen with banks, financial platforms, and even prominent social media platforms before. 

It was recently reported in the Hindu that Indian businesses face over 3,000 cyberattacks per week. India is the second most targeted nation in terms of cyber attacks. Maybe our growth story as a nation, and a large number of “Make in India” businesses coming up, is making India a target for these attacks. So, while every business would try their best to protect the data from potential data breaches, such malicious attacks still do happen.

Cybersecurity Challenges in India

Keeping in mind all these realities, as a management committee member and an apartment resident, the least you can do is to NOT trust your data with Community Management platforms that would voluntarily share your data with third parties as a part of their business model, for generating revenue for their company. 

This part you can definitely control. Choose pure subscription-based software for your Community & say No to Free Advertisement-based Apps. Today, by incorporating AI and IoT into their solutions, best-of-breed property management apps are demonstrating remarkable creativity and enabling members of communities to live really secure, safe, and convenient lives. The Trinity of Community Stakeholders—security guards, flat residents, and the management committee—can effectively work together to create a very secure and convenient community living experience.

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