In the United States, Canada and 27 European countries, January 28 of each year is known as Data Privacy Day.  Started in Europe as “Data Protection Day” to recognize the January 28, 1981, signing of the Europe’s first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection, known as Convention 108, Data Privacy Day was first celebrated in Canada and the U.S. in 2008.

In the U.S., Data Privacy Day is organized and promoted by the nonprofit The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA).  NCSA seeks to raise awareness in the workplace, in school and at home about data privacy and the protection of personal information online and offline.

NCSA has a handy guide to educate you about the personal information you are sharing and storing on e-commerce sites, social media, web browsers and search engines and on your smart phones and other mobile devices.  The guide instructs you how to look at your current privacy settings online and on your devices and if you wish, how to make changes to those settings to better protect your personal information. See https://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/check-your-privacy-settings/.

As part our ongoing representation of clients on privacy related matters, we conduct training programs and seminars on collecting, using, safeguarding and sharing information. Please contact us if your business is interested in learning more about these training programs and seminars.

See our blog this month and https://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/ for more details on getting involved in National Privacy Day and as always, be #PrivacyAware.