World Data Privacy Day: Awareness and Protecting Personal Information

World Data Privacy Day, also known as Data Privacy Day, is celebrated annually on January 28th to raise awareness and promote the protection of personal information. Established by the Council of Europe in 2007, this day is now recognized and celebrated globally by individuals, businesses and governments.

The importance of World Data Privacy Day comes from the growing worldwide concern over the collection, use and storage of personal data in the digital age. With the increased use of technology on the internet, personal information has become a valuable commodity, making its protection highly important. The widespread collection and use of personal data for purposes such as marketing research has led to many privacy breaches and data leaks. This leads to significant personal privacy risks.

The history of World Data Privacy Day can be seen as being started in the 1980s when the Council of Europe started their work on privacy protection. In 1981, the Council adopted the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (Convention 108) which was the first legally binding international treaty on privacy protection (Council of Europe, 2021).[1]

On this particular day, individuals, businesses as well as governments are encouraged to raise awareness and take actions to protect personal information. For example, individuals can take steps such as using strong passwords, regularly checking privacy settings as well as being careful about what personal information they share online. Businesses are reminded that they have a responsibility to protect the personal information of their customers and employees. Businesses can also celebrate World Data Privacy Day by reviewing and updating their privacy policies, doing audits and offering giving privacy training to their employees (National Cyber Security Alliance, 2021). [2]

Governments can get involved as well. They can celebrate World Data Privacy Day by enacting and enforcing privacy laws and informing the public about data privacy. The European Parliament (2021) states, "Data protection and privacy are fundamental human rights that are increasingly being threatened by the power of technology." [3] It is also worth mentioning that World Data Privacy Day can also be celebrated by participating in privacy-themed events, online discussions, and educational campaigns. Governments can sponsor or inform the public about these events. The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), for example, hosts various events and webinars to raise awareness and educate individuals and organizations about privacy protection. [4]

In conclusion, World Data Privacy Day serves as a reminder about raising awareness of the issues related to protecting personal information. The growing collection and use of personal data in the status quo makes protection of this information more important than ever. It is essential for individuals, businesses and governments alike to work together to promote privacy and protect personal information.

[1] Council of Europe. (2021). Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (Convention 108). Retrieved from https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/108

[2] National Cyber Security Alliance. (2021). Data Privacy Day. Retrieved from https://staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/

[3] European Parliament. (2021, January 28). World Data Privacy Day: Protecting our digital lives. Retrieved from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210126IPR64499/world-data-privacy-day-protecting-our-digital-lives

[4]The International Association of Privacy Professionals (2023). Data Privacy Day. Retrieved from https://iapp.org/connect/data-privacy-day/