Why Data Discipline Starts at the Top

Why Standards Matter More Than Ever

I don’t usually write about politics. I don’t enjoy or chase it, and I don’t want to be part of the noise.

But this isn’t a political story—it’s a systems failure. As someone involved in the work of the Marketing Accountability Council, it hit close to home.

Because when leadership—at any level—models sloppy data hygiene, dismisses protocols, or shrugs off exposure as a PR issue instead of a systems issue, it sends a message. And that message trickles down. If the people at the top treat secure communication like an afterthought, what do we expect from everyone else?

The Signal Chat That Shouldn't Have Happened

A few days ago, The Atlantic published screenshots from a Signal group chat involving U.S. government officials. In it, tactical information about an upcoming military strike in Yemen was shared—by name, time, and weather—just 31 minutes before the operation began.

One of the phone numbers in that chat belonged to a journalist, who received the messages in real time. The messages weren’t marked classified, and officials insisted no “war plans” were disclosed.

It doesn’t take a classification label to recognize that sending pre-strike details to an unsecured, mixed-recipient thread on a consumer-grade app is a serious operational risk.

Then Came the Second Blow

Shortly after, DER SPIEGEL—a respected German investigative outlet—reported that the personal data of several top officials in that same chat was easily discoverable online.

We’re talking phone numbers, emails, passwords. Many still active. Many linked to social platforms, messaging apps, and other services.

And no, this wasn’t some nation-state hack. Reporters used publicly available search engines and connected the dots using previously leaked commercial data. It didn’t require high-level access—just patience, awareness, and a working internet connection.

This is what bad data hygiene looks like. And when it comes from people at the top, it’s not just a mistake—it’s a model.

If a Brand Did This, We’d Call It Negligence

If a CMO greenlit something like this—sharing sensitive internal data on unvetted platforms, reusing passwords, ignoring breach risks—they’d be out the door before the Wi-Fi disconnected.

We’d question their judgment. We’d flag the brand as untrustworthy. And we’d expect consequences.

At the Marketing Accountability Council, we ask marketers to own their data, protect their customers, and communicate transparently. That standard shouldn't stop at the private sector.

This isn’t just a government issue. It’s a culture issue.

I’ve Seen What Real Accountability Looks Like

In the corporate environments I’ve worked in, data security wasn’t optional—it was policy.

• Approved platforms only.

• Email auto-deletion rules.

• Communication tools locked down and monitored.

• External apps? Not even a discussion.

The InfoSec teams in those companies didn’t just react to threats—they prevented them. They trained employees, set up firewalls, managed access controls, and responded instantly when something went wrong.

There was no “gray area.” No “we’ll deal with it later.” If you mishandled data—even once—there wasn’t a coaching session. There was a consequence.

Why? Because mishandling data wasn’t just a mistake. It was a breach of trust.

Culture Is Built Through Stories, Not Slogans

What stuck with me most wasn’t the tech or the policies—it was the stories.

Every so often, our team would get an internal email detailing real incidents that had happened—anonymized, but specific.

Someone sent a file to the wrong recipient.

Someone reused a password.

Someone used an unauthorized tool.

The emails explained what went wrong, how it was fixed, and what we all needed to learn. No blame. Just clarity.

That transparency didn’t create fear. It built trust. Because it reinforced the idea that standards matter when they’re applied to everyone—quietly, consistently, and without exception.

And Outside That System? Chaos.

Meanwhile, in my personal life, I keep getting text messages addressed to someone named Madeline. Political messages. Donation requests. I’ve never signed up. I unsubscribe. They stop—for a few weeks or months. Then they come back from a new number.

If a business did this? It would violate a dozen standards. But because it’s outside a structured system, it just... happens. No accountability. No consequences.

What Europe Does Differently

In the EU, this kind of data misuse would trigger an investigation. Under GDPR, privacy isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a legal requirement.

• Data can’t be shared without consent.

• Breaches must be disclosed.

• Noncompliance comes with real penalties—often in the millions.

In the U.S.? Consent is often treated like a checkbox. Privacy policies are unreadable. And breaches get buried behind vague statements and PR damage control.

Digital Receipts Are the New Reality

In today’s world, nothing stays hidden for long.

Entire YouTube communities now specialize in uncovering sloppy data practices. Ethical hackers. Security researchers. Digital investigators.

They don’t speculate. They document. They record screen captures, trace credentials, and show the failure—live, with evidence.

And when they find a vulnerability, it’s not just an internal matter. It becomes content. It becomes receipts.

The Real Takeaway

We don’t need less accountability in the digital age. We need more.

Not performative. Not symbolic.
Actual, built-in accountability.

Modeled from the top.
Enforced across every level.

Whether you’re a government official, a brand executive, or someone managing a simple newsletter, you are now a data steward.

Trust doesn’t come from promises. It comes from infrastructure. From discipline. From the systems you build when no one’s watching.

It’s not just about protecting secrets.
It’s about protecting people.
And that’s never optional.