Data Privacy Day (DPD) is celebrated across the world on January 28.
The objective of the day is to sensitize individuals and disseminate privacy practices and principles. It promotes everyone to own their privacy responsibilities to create a culture of privacy.
Every second, people's personal data is processed - at work, in their interactions with governmental authorities, in the health profession, when they buy goods or services, travel, or surf the internet. Individuals are typically unaware of the hazards associated with personal data privacy and their rights in this regard. They are often unaware of what they may do if they believe their rights have been violated, as well as the role of national data protection bodies.
The Council of Europe resolved on April 26, 2006, to establish a Data Protection Day to be observed each year on January 28, the date on which the Council of Europe's data protection convention, known as "Convention 108," was opened for signature. Data Protection Day is now observed worldwide and is known as Privacy Day outside of Europe. On this day, governments, legislatures, national data protection authorities, and other stakeholders engage in activities to promote awareness about the rights to personal data protection and privacy. These may include public awareness campaigns, instructional programmes for teachers and students, and open doors at data protection organisations and conferences.
To commemorate Data Protection Day, which commemorates the opening for signature of the Council of Europe data protection convention on 28 January 1981, the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today hosted a conference to discuss the modernised "Convention 108+'s" potential as a global privacy standard.