Data Protection Day 2026

Data Protection Day

Wednesday 28 January is Data Protection Day. And yes, it is data protection not privacy as this is the name given to it by those who initiated it some years ago.

What is this all about?

The date was chosen in 2006 for the anniversary of the opening of signature process for the Council of Europe’s Convention 108 in 1981. The Convention was the forerunner of data protection laws as we know them today.

This year is the 20th Anniversary of the Data Protection Day.

Why is data protection important?

Data protection impacts all of our businesses and working lives. It also impacts our personal lives. So it is important to get this right.

When we hold someone's personal data we are custodians of that data. As a business you need to be able to reassure people that their data is being looked after in a way that they would expect and that they can trust you with it.

In simple terms, strong data protection means:

• Being transparent about how personal data is used - a good start is the Privacy Notice telling people what you are doing with their data.
• Treating personal data with the same respect we expect for our own.
• Designing security and privacy in, not bolting it on - having strong passwords, different access levels and views, secure paper storage, or safe disposal methods.

As technology evolves, so does our responsibility to protect it.

Next steps and why?

There’s a reason to have policies, procedures and controls in place and to have good awareness training for all staff.

You will be able to demonstrate you are taking steps towards compliance with the laws and ultimately, build trust with your staff and customers or clients.

If you are a business that is unsure about data protection or GDPR, don’t struggle on or worry. Let us help take that worry away and give you confidence. You can use the 'space' to build trust with your customers or clients, and staff. 

DT Information Governance is happy to help so Get in touch if you would like some advice and even just a chat.
https://www.dtinformationgovernance.co.uk/contact/