The implication appears to be that the CPO role is being viewed by these large companies as a “performative role,” with no real influence or power emanating from the role. As such, the companies are treating it accordingly. Thoughts?
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/chief-privacy-officers-face-reckoning-as-regulators-keep-watch
Sure, for a lot of these companies privacy is primarily a public relations or messaging issue. So it's seen as performance. Making a good show of it or ticking a box and claiming to have done something is no doubt considered being good enough to get by.
Of all the clients I’ve worked with I don’t think I’ve ever worked with a CPO. I think it’s mostly ran through legal with the GC being the top spot. The GC may be their DPO and/or de facto CPO. But I don’t think privacy is dying or “less” without a CPO role.