Guide to Data Privacy Day: What It Is and How to Stay Safe Online

Understanding how information is saved, and what you’re agreeing to when surfing the web and using online sites, apps, and services is the key to protecting your privacy online.

Data Privacy Day header

Data privacy day is an important step in helping average people protect their privacy online, and helping bigger companies take the proper care to protect the data of their consumers. In this article, we’ll cover all the basics you need to know about Data Privacy Day.

What this article will cover

Let’s jump in with learning about the holiday itself.

 

What is data privacy day?

Data Privacy Day is held each year on January 28 as an international effort to create awareness about the importance of developing good data privacy practices as an Internet user. Many organizations help teach the importance of best practices for safety, privacy, and keeping data safe online.

The campaign is led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), along with a committee of Internet privacy professionals. It was first celebrated in 2007, and is also known as Data Protection Day in Europe. Its main purpose is simply to help people develop good habits for protecting their privacy when using the Internet.

 

What is data privacy?

Concept of data security

Data privacy, also referred to as “information privacy,” is the ability to interact with data, the Internet, and other technologies while maintaining the security and privacy of that information when interacting with it. This means understanding what can be shared or disseminated and what cannot.

Data privacy is always changing, like with the GDPR regulations that came into effect in Spring of 2018. This is a concern for many large companies that utilize the Internet for their businesses, but it also affects everyday casual technology users who share aspects of their personal information online. This can include a multitude of different pieces of information, most commonly:

  • Sharing personal identity information – names, addresses, Social Security Numbers
  • Sharing financial information – credit card numbers, bank account numbers
  • Sharing biological information – sending samples of your DNA to Ancestry.com or 23andMe.com
  • Sharing health care records – having blood test results published online
  • Location-based information – using GPS and other location services on your phone
  • Web surfing preferences – search engine preferences, cookies

To learn more about this in detail, check out this free course on Internet Privacy. It includes the basics: how privacy policies work, how your Internet data is tracked and sold, and how to better manage your browser history and browser cookies.

 

Data privacy events: how to participate

Events dealing with data privacy

There are many events going on during data privacy day – all over the world. Here’s a list of the top events you could participate in:

1. Data Privacy Day 2019: A New Era in Privacy

Where: LinkedIn Corporation, San Francisco, CA
Time: Jan 28, 2019 | 1:30-5:00 pm PST
Summary: Seminar on how to protect data as a large corporation or average consumer in the changing landscape of today’s technologies.
Livestream: https://staysafeonline.org/dpd19-live/ 

 

2. Symposium on Data Privacy

Where: Rice University, Houston, Texas
Time: Jan 28, 2019
Summary: A collection of speakers and panelists discussing the challenges of data privacy and protection, as well as highlighting the current research in the field.

 

3. 2019 Privacy Predictions

Where: Mindspace, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Time: Jan 28, 2019 | 6:00-8:00 pm
Summary: An expert panel on the future of data privacy, followed by a cocktail social.

 

4. Global Privacy Officer Readiness (CIPP/E & CIPPUS)

Where: Delray Beach, FL
Time: Jan 28, 2019 | 9:00 am EST
Summary: Privacy workshops from the International Association of Privacy Professionals to help with privacy officer certification.

 

8 great resources for protecting your privacy online

These articles and videos can help you learn more about data security, Internet safety, how to protect yourself online, and all about digital literacy best practices.

1. How to be Safe on the Internet

Learn these 6 essential tips to protecting yourself while using the Internet – including popular websites, services, and apps.

 

2. Privacy and Data Protection

In this animated video, learn all about the basics of data privacy and protection, including why it’s important for you to protect yourself.

 

3. How to Make Your Facebook Account Completely Private

Facebook is one of the most used websites out there, and they do a lot with your data. In this video, learn what you need to do to your account to change the default settings that certainly don’t protect your privacy.

 

4. Data Protection Laws in the United States

This informational article can teach you the ins and outs of specific laws in the United States related to information privacy and data protection policy.

 

5. How to Enable or Disable Cookies

Learn how to enable or disable cookies on most major Internet browsers to get more control over how your browsing history is being tracked by other sites.

 

6. Best Digital Literacy Websites: 32 Great Resources and Tools

This guide lists over 30 resources and tools you can use to learn digital literacy – no matter what level of skill you’re at!

 

7. Social Media Data Privacy Awareness

This video will teach you all about data privacy as it pertains to social media. Learn how social media platforms, businesses, and marketers are using your personal information, as well as how to protect yourself.

 

8. Top 5 Safe and Private Messaging Apps

This video will show you which messaging apps will actually protect your information, and explain why most messaging apps don’t.

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