2024 Theme

You have the power to take charge of your data. This is why we are excited to celebrate Data Privacy Week 2024 with the theme: 

Take control of your data:

Your online activity creates a treasure trove of data. This data ranges from your interests and purchases to your online behaviors, and it is collected by websites, apps, devices, services, and companies all around the globe. This data can even include information about your physical self, like health data – think about how an app on your phone might count how many steps you take.

You cannot control how each little piece of data about you and your family is collected. However, you still have a right to data privacy. You can help manage your data with a few repeatable behaviors. Your data is valuable and you deserve to have a say!

Check out our resources below to better manage your personal information and make informed decisions about who receives your data.

About Data Privacy Week 

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 Week 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.