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MCC Daily Tribune

Data Privacy Week

Data Privacy Week from January 24 – January 28 is an international effort to create awareness about digital data privacy, and how it is being used and sometimes exploited by businesses. The cause advocates respecting the privacy of individuals, and for businesses to be more transparent about how they handle user data.

Millions of people are unaware of how their digital activity and personal data are being collected and shared with large corporations. Data Privacy Week gives the power to control privacy back to the users.

HOW TO OBSERVE DATA PRIVACY WEEK

  1. Change your passwords

    This is a simple yet effective way to protect your data. It is good to update all your passwords once every few months, as they are prone to appearing in data leaks.

  2. Manage your privacy

    Take into account all your information that is available online. Be aware of which websites have access to your personal information, and make sure you know all the relevant privacy settings.

  3. Learn more about data privacy

    Read about how big companies like Facebook are collecting user data, and for what purposes. Terms of service and privacy agreements are available for everyone to read as well.

5 SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT DATA PRIVACY

  1. Google is the kingpin

    40% of all web traffic is monitored and tracked by Google.

  2. Google isn’t the only company

    Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft are all contenders for tracking user activity and web traffic.

  3. It’s mostly for ads

    The primary purpose for collecting user data is to generate targeted ads.

  4. Privacy laws exist for individuals

    Privacy laws allow individuals to take back complete ownership of their data, and even exercise their right to be forgotten.

  5. Replica profiles are created

    Every user has a profile made about them, containing data on them.

WHY DATA PRIVACY WEEK IS IMPORTANT

  1. It creates awareness about precautionary measures

    It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially online. Data Privacy Week creates awareness about data security and addresses justified concerns of users whose personal information is compromised.

  2. Advocacy for governments to intervene

    Although cyber laws exist, the situation is spiraling out of control. There is a need for national institutions to intervene and establish stricter regulations on corporations to ensure cyber security.

  3. It can prevent people from becoming victims

    The darker side to information collection is how unsuspecting users become targets of cyberstalking and scams. Incidents can even take place offline if the location of an individual is available.

 

Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
01/23/2023