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What will you do in honor of International Data Privacy Day?
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Home > Articles > International Privacy Day 2008
| International Privacy Day 2008 |
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On January 28, 2008, in the United States and in 27 European countries, privacy professionals, corporations, government agencies, nonprofit and academic institutions, and students came together to celebrate Data Privacy Day 2008.
This particular date was chosen to coelebrate the anniversary of an international treaty adopted by West European countries at the beginning of the computer age (1981) to counter the danger of a 'technological totalitarian (wow!) state.
Twenty-seven years after the treaty, data privacy laws have been passed by many nations throughout the world. Therefore the citizens of these countries are protected from privacy intrusions by their governments, their employers and their markets, both in the off-line and in the on-line world.
The United States of America and Canada are two of these countries. However, as is the case elsewhere, the vast majority of citizens are unaware of their data privacy rights. A 2003 Eurobarometer survey on the protection of privacy in the European Union showed that 70% of European citizens feel they know little about what is done in their country to protect their personal data. This statistic is even worse in North America.
Therefore, in honor of this second annual Data Privacy Day, privacy professionals worked in schools across the nation throughout the coming month to raise awareness and generate discussion about online privacy -- encouraging use of the internet and all of the communication and ecommerce tools it offers, while helping teenagers and young adults learn how to protect the privacy of their personal data and be safe online.
You, too, can join the Privacy BandWagon!
Contact a middle school or high school in your area and volunteer to teach about Privacy! Or just reach out to your teenager and/or young adult and a group of his/her friends! We've tried to make it easier for you to 'make your own' as you like.
Educational Materials are available on the website of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (click here)
- For Teenagers: These materials cover Social Networking, Privacy Policies and Security Risks: How to protect your personal information online; If you should decide to teach/share this with a group, included are a teaching script, the actual presentation, sources and resources, and a handout.
- For College and University Students and other Adults: The materials cover the definition of privacy, ways to protect privacy, privacy harms, and fair information practices. Included is a teaching manual and presentation.
Good luck and let us know if you ‘spread the word’! Use the Contact Us link in the top right corner of this webpage. |
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