Data Privacy Day is an internationally recognized effort to increase awareness about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information — because privacy is at the heart of everything we do.
Data Privacy Day is also an opportunity for organizations to recognize that the best way to earn trust is by protecting the information about individuals — properly, consistently, and ethically.
The importance of privacy, and the value of personal information, became even clearer during the pandemic. Privacy of medical records. Of vaccination status. Of thoughts and views and opinions. And what happens in the court of social media when people’s privacy is breached.
Remote school and work raised profound privacy issues. Technological solutions were embraced to meet sudden demand. But not all the solutions provided adequate or proportional privacy and data protection. And many provided none at all.
Those and more privacy challenges are the things that the Privacy & Access Council of Canada helps members and the broader public understand — because we believe genuine respect for individual privacy is the foundation of freedom; and that public policy and laws that reflect that foundation are beneficial for well-functioning democracy, financial and digital economies, and public safety. We also believe that individuals’ privacy, not organizational secrecy, should be at the heart of everything governments and commercial organizations do.
That’s why the PACC is a Data Privacy Champion.
That’s why PACC continues to engage in outreach efforts to advance awareness about access, privacy, and data protection, and help people understand the value of the data about them, and how to protect their privacy.
That’s why PACC continues its important work in support of the access-to-information, information privacy, and data protection profession across the private, non-profit, and public sectors.
That’s why PACC is Independent • Non-profit • Non-partisan • Non-government
About Data Privacy Day
Data Privacy Day 2025 is the 44th anniversary of Convention 108 and the 17th Data Protection Day.
Held annually on January 28th in countries around the world, Data Privacy Day brings together individuals, government representatives, corporations, non-profits, academics, educators and students to increase awareness of privacy and data protection issues among consumers, organizations, and government officials and across sectors.
Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Data Protection Day commemorates the January 28, 1981, signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Data Privacy Day is now a celebration for everyone, observed annually on January 28.
