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Your data is valuable. Even if you don’t agree, many organizations and groups would pay top dollar for it and they don’t all have your best interests in mind. But you have the power to take charge of your data. This is why we are excited to celebrate the second ever Data Privacy Week!
Last year, the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) expanded Data Privacy Day into Data Privacy Week because your data is that important! Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January of 2008. It is an extension of Data Protection Day in Europe, which commemorates the January 28, 1981 signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection.
The goal of Data Privacy Week is to spread awareness about online privacy. We think data privacy should be a priority both for individuals and organizations. Our goal is twofold: we want to help citizens understand that they have the power to manage their data and we want to help organizations understand why it is important that they respect their users’ data.
Why Is Data Privacy Important?
Our data is collected everyday — your computer, smartphone, and pretty much every other internet-connected device gathers data, which might even include your wristwatch or car! But you often have some choices when it comes to how this data is collected, shared, and sold.
Personal data can be stored indefinably. Data can be used to make inferences about your socioeconomic status, demographic information, and preferences. Even seemingly innocuous information, such as your favorite restaurants or items you purchase online, can be used to make assumptions about you and your habits. Many companies have the opportunity to monitor the data of their users and consumers, and they sell the data for profit.
If this reality is sending chills down your spine, don’t fret! You can take steps to control how your data is shared. You can’t lock down all of your data — even if you stop using the internet, credit card companies record your purchases and the government knows your Social Security number. But you can take simple steps to manage it and take more control of who it is shared with.