Would your customer still trust you if they truly understood how their data is being used?
In an era where digital interactions are constant and data flows are invisible; this question is no longer hypothetical; it’s foundational.
Recent headlines say it all. From AI models quietly integrating personal conversations to high-profile health and biometric data breaches, organizations across sectors are confronting a harsh truth: trust, once lost, is nearly impossible to rebuild. And it’s not just about data leaks anymore, it’s about how consent is obtained, interpreted, and respected.
The EU’s AI Act, India’s DPDP Act, and other privacy-first laws worldwide signal a rational shift: consumers are taking charge of data decisions. Welcome to the Consent Economy, a place where privacy is a differentiator in the marketplace rather than merely a compliance checkbox.
Yet most Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) frameworks still operate like it’s 2015. They are designed to tick boxes, not build trust. They are built for audit trails, not user empowerment. As expectations evolve, organizations must ask themselves: Are we prepared to govern for compliance and consent?
“The basis of digital trust is changing as a result of the Consent Economy. Today's governance involves more than just following the rules; it also involves valuing each individual, making adjustments as needed, and exercising transparent leadership”, Santhosh Kapalavai, Senior Manager – GRC, Dexian India.
The Consent Economy Has Arrived: Where Data Rights Drive Business Reality
We are in the midst of a fundamental shift, from passive data collection to active user control. This is Consent Economy: a digital landscape where individuals demand clarity, control, and choice over how, when, and why their data is used.
This evolution isn’t theoretical; it’s accelerating, and the signs are everywhere:
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AI and behavioral tracking raise ethical alarms. As businesses tap into predictive analytics and AI personalization, the line between helpful and intrusive is increasingly blurred. Consent is no longer just a checkbox; it’s an expectation for fairness, transparency, and respect.
But here’s the challenge: most GRC systems weren’t designed for this world.
Legacy GRC frameworks were built around fixed policies, predictable risks, and static compliance checklists. They weren’t designed to handle user-driven data lifecycles, real-time consent, or the intricate relationship between privacy, trust, and AI.
The Evolving Triad: Privacy, Risk, and Trust
To navigate the Consent Economy, organizations must reexamine the foundation of their digital governance. At the center of this shift lies a new triad—privacy, Risk, and Trust—no longer siloed concepts but deeply interdependent forces shaping business outcomes.
Privacy: From Checkbox to Competitive Advantage
Once treated as a back-office compliance task, privacy has now moved to the front lines of brand strategy. Leading companies like Apple have transformed privacy into a valuable proposition, positioning themselves not just as device makers but as protectors of user data. When customers feel their information is protected, they are more willing to engage, share, and stay loyal.
The takeaway? Privacy is no longer about avoiding penalties; it’s about building preferences.
Risk: Expanding Beyond the Balance Sheet
Traditionally, risk management focuses on financial loss or regulatory exposure. But in the digital era, risks have grown more complex and less visible. Think about the fallout when AI systems are trained using user data without the users’ express agreement. This is not simply a data problem; it’s a crisis of operations, ethics, and reputation.
The stakes are higher, and the speed of breaches is faster. Businesses must now account for algorithmic bias, shadow data ecosystems, and third-party vulnerabilities in their core risk models. Modern risk governance must be dynamic, tech-literate, and ethically aware.
Trust: The Currency of the Digital Age
In a world driven by algorithms and automation, trust has become the most valuable and fragile asset a brand can hold. Studies consistently show that over 70% of consumers are reluctant to share data unless they trust the organization’s intent and transparency. This confidence must be acquired via consistent, moral data practices; it cannot be forced.
Santhosh mentions that “We’re at a tipping point where users are more informed and regulations more rigorous, but many organizations still rely on outdated governance models. The gap between compliance and trust is widening fast—and that’s where the real risk lies”.
Reframing GRC for the Consent Economy
To stay resilient and relevant in the Consent Economy, organizations must evolve from static compliance enforcers to dynamic enablers of trust. This calls for a fundamental shift in how we view and implement GRC, not as a set of policies, but as an integrated strategy that places users, ethics, and transparency at the center.
Here’s what modern, consent-aware GRC includes:
Traditional policies often treat consent as a one-time checkbox. But today, consent is contextual, revocable, and purpose-based. Modern GRC systems must enable real-time consent management, tracking, honoring, and adapting to user preferences across every interaction, not just during data collection.
Risk isn’t static, and neither should be your governance. Whether it’s shifting regulatory landscapes, evolving cyber threats, or the unintended consequences of AI, modern GRC must be flexible enough to respond to both expected and emergent risks. This includes integrating AI/ML-driven risk detection, behavioral insights, and continuous monitoring models.
Trust erodes in the absence of transparency. Modern GRC embeds clear, traceable trust signals into data processes, making it easy for users and regulators alike to see not just what data is collected but also why, how it’s used, and for how long. Think of it as moving from a black box to a glass box approach to governance.
How Leaders Can Act Today
Although switching to a consent-driven GRC model may seem difficult, there are simple and doable first steps. Forward-thinking companies set an example for others to follow, rather than waiting for regulations to impose changes.
Leaders may start redefining GRC for the Consent Economy in the following ways:
Audit Your Ecosystem
Start with a clear-eyed look at your current state. Where is implicit consent still assumed? Are users truly in control of their data? Mapping out your data flows and consent mechanisms can reveal critical blind spots, especially in legacy systems or third-party integrations.
Embed Privacy Engineering from the Ground Up
Make privacy a design principle, not a retrofit. Incorporate privacy engineering into the product lifecycle, from initial needs through testing and deployment. Whether it’s consent prompts, granular data controls, or user-friendly privacy dashboards, proactive design can eliminate reactive risks.
Move from “Compliance-first” to “Design-first”
Don’t just build for regulation, build for trust. Shift the internal mindset from monitoring to creating transparent user experiences. This means considering how policies, interfaces, and backend systems honor consent as an evolving element.
Break Down Silos, Align Around Trust
True transformation happens when privacy, risk, legal, security, and product teams collaborate. Establish trust as a shared KPI that is measurable, cross-functional, and central to your business strategy. When every function is accountable for earning and maintaining user trust, GRC becomes a growth strategy, not a challenge.
Santhosh concludes, “At Dexian, we’ve reimagined GRC to align with the realities of the Consent Economy. Our solutions are built to be agile, consent-aware, and trust-led—because we believe that long-term growth comes from governance that empowers, not restricts”.
Conclusion
In a world where users are increasingly aware of their digital rights, trust is no longer a passive outcome. It must be intentionally designed, consistently delivered, and transparently governed. The organizations that will lead tomorrow are not those that merely comply with regulations but those that treat trust as a core value proposition—measurable, renewable, and deeply human.
As privacy expectations intensify and AI-driven risks grow more nuanced, it’s clear that privacy and risk must evolve together, with user trust at the center of every decision. Governance, Risk, and Compliance are no longer back-office functions; they are business enablers. In the Consent Economy, GRC isn’t just about safeguarding assets—it’s about unlocking growth.
At Dexian, we believe in reframing GRC to serve the future, not just the past. Our approach blends consent-aware data governance, adaptive risk intelligence, and privacy-by-design frameworks to help organizations embed trust into the fabric of their digital strategy. We partner with enterprises to shift from reactive compliance to proactive trust-building, bridging the gap between what users expect and what businesses deliver.
In this new era, trust isn’t just the differentiator; it’s the foundation.
About the Author
Santhosh Kapalavai is a seasoned authority in Information Security, Cybersecurity, and Compliance, with over a decade of expertise in strengthening corporate security postures and implementing robust compliance frameworks across various industries. He holds an extensive portfolio of certifications, including CISA, CSOE, CRCMP, GRCP, GRCA, ISO 27001/9001 Lead Auditor, ITIL, PMP, and Scrum, reflecting his deep proficiency in the field. Santhosh has played a crucial role in reinforcing security architectures and compliance strategies for numerous organizations. His impactful research on the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, recognized and published by ISACA, highlights his dedication to advancing global data privacy standards. With a strategic mindset and a meticulous approach, Santhosh continues to be a key influencer in driving organizations toward enhanced security and compliance excellence.