71% Indian parents fear data leak from their phone or connected devices that have a camera: reveals Godrej Security Solutions study

~Cyber security and child healthcare experts highlight the need to ensure data privacy for children as the pandemic continues to increase access to online content

Mumbai, July 26, 2021: While offices are gradually opening up adopting hybrid working models, schools and other extra curriculum activities for children continue to operate virtually. Under such circumstances, parents want constant connectivity and surveillance when it comes to caring for their young children, and home security solutions prove to be a convenient option. Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Enterprises Group, announced that its business, Godrej Security Solutions, revealed that 71% Indian parents fear data leak from their phone or connected devices that have a camera. The leading home security solutions brand has recently launched India’s most secure range of home camera, the ‘Spotlight’. Designed and manufactured in India, this new range offers Indians best-in-class data security, so that your home and personal data stays private.

The survey hosted among 1500+ parents also revealed that only 46% parents have child locks for online OTT / social media accounts on their devices. However, insights from the survey showed that data privacy is a big consideration for parents while investing in smart devices, with 78% saying they would like home cameras to have data privacy as a key feature.

The webinar on ‘Digital Security for Children’, hosted in association with the Online Parenting Summit in celebration of World Parent’s Day, was moderated by Sneha Tapadia, Co-founder, Online Parenting Summit, with a board of eminent panellist including Dr. Ananth Prabhu G, Cyber Law & Security Expert and author of Cyber Safe Girl, Riddhi Deorah, Founder, Easy Parenting Hub, Dr. Zirak Marker, Child, Adolescent & Family Psychiatrist, and Sushant Bharghava, Godrej Security Solutions.

This discussion point triggered an insightful dialogue at the webinar, wherein the panellists spoke about how parents can manage their own relationship with the internet and mobile devices, along with managing their children’s use of and exposure to the same technology. The discussion also emphasized what parents should keep in mind when installing new devices at home, such as choosing the right home security cameras to avoid any data leak.

Commenting on the launch, Mehernosh Pithawalla, Vice- President, Godrej Security Solutions, said, “As connected devices are becoming increasingly popular across Indian households, the potential impact of security breaches has also increased. In response to this, we at Godrej Security Solutions have introduced the Spotlight range of home cameras, that assures easy to use surveillance solution and ability to constantly stay connected to your loved ones without fearing the possibility of someone in the cyber world spying on your home. Moreover, with the proven cloud technology backed by AWS, we are able to address the pertinent issue of data security.” The Spotlight range of cameras transfer data over secure Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud servers in India, ensuring your home camera only gives you peace of mind; not at the cost of spying on your home.

Godrej Security Solutions has been taking strategic steps by focusing on innovation to provide smarter and secure home solutions to its consumers. Godrej security solution has in the past one year increased their investment towards R&D and innovation by over 100% to bridge the gap that exists in the sector, such as data security and enhance the penetration of security solutions across Indian households.

Note to the editor: Please refer to the annexure for quotes from our panellists.

Quotes Annexure

Dr. Zirak Marker, Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatrist, said, “Our home is our comfort zone where we indulge in activities that are very personal to us. One wants their privacy to be protected from the world, especially if you have young children at home. However, if this personal data is leaked the impact on one’s mind or family’s wellbeing can be tremendous. Typical psychological effects of having one’s privacy invaded include depression, insomnia, eating and sleeping difficulties and social anxiety. Parents should not have to compromise on their privacy just because their home security devices or any other smart devices have not been secured 100%. It was great be part of this webinar to create awareness of the psychological impacts of data breaches on children – a topic very relevant in the current connected world.”

Dr. Ananth Prabhu G, Cyber Law and Security Expert said, “The increase in digital activities during the pandemic has led to a proportionate increase in cybercrimes and data breaches. The need of the hour is to educate everyone, especially kids about the perils of the digital world and guidelines to browse the internet responsibly. It's important for parents to monitor their child's activities and there are various ways of doing it, such as enabling parental control on their digital devices. I also recommend installing home security cameras, which not only help you monitor your children but also anyone who comes home. At the same time, it is important to ensure this data stays private.”

Sneha Tapadia, Co-founder, Online Parenting Summit said,“The mission of this webinar was to redefine parenthood through the prism of new age practical issues. Through this platform, we attempt to bring the best of industry experts, educationists and psychologists guiding parents through everyday challenges. An increasing number of parents today are relying on technology to ensure the safety of their children. However, data leaks and data thefts are a grave concern. This initiative is a step towards making parents aware about issues related to digital security so that they can take appropriate measures to ensure their children’s safety.”

About Godrej Security Solutions:

Godrej Security Solutions is a division of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd and part of the USD 4.1 billion Godrej Enterprises Group. A pioneer and leader in the business, Godrej Security Solutions Division is the largest manufacturer and marketer of Security Solutions in India. It is the largest supplier of security solutions to several prestigious banking, corporate and public institutions. For the first time in the category and the industry, Godrej Security Solutions Division has been awarded the Superbrand status. It has also won the “Most Preferred brand” award in the Home Segment. The Division currently exports its products to over 45 countries including Middle East Asia, South East Asia, Far East Asia, East Africa, the US, Europe and the SAARC Countries.

Media contact:
Apurva Mishra
Ph: 9833163620
Email: apurvapm@godrej.com

Mayukhi Mondal
Ph: 9168464125
Email: mayukhi.mondal@adfactorspr.com