January 25, 2013
Data Privacy Day - January 28, 2013
Take control of your information, Information & Privacy Commissioner Ed Ring
says
Information and Privacy Commissioner Ed Ring is encouraging citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador to “take control of your information.”
The reminder is in support of Data Privacy Day, marked annually around the world on January 28 to highlight the impact technology is having on privacy and to promote the importance of valuing and protecting personal information.
In Canada, this year’s Data Privacy Day theme is: “Take control of your information. Don’t let it come back to haunt you.”
Some of the steps people can take to control their personal information include:
- Give out as little personal information as possible. If you are being asked for your birth date, email address, or other details, ask why. Don't provide it if you don't have to.
- Think carefully before posting information about yourself online to avoid regrets later.
- Know how your personal information will be used. Ask questions and read privacy policies.
- Ensure your computer has the newest version of your Internet browser; install up-to-date software and virus protection; and make sure your wireless network is secure.
- Secure mobile devices with hard-to-guess passwords and avoid storing sensitive information on them.
- Put sensitive paper documents in a shredder – not the recycling bin.
Taking control of personal information is useful advice for individuals, but also for businesses and organizations that collect personal information. Protecting personal information has much greater value to organizations than simply complying with privacy laws – it helps to develop consumer trust.
This week, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner joins governments, privacy professionals, corporations, academics and students from around the world, in marking Data Privacy Day with a public information fair at the Avalon Mall on January 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
For more information on Data Privacy Day 2013 please go to:
www.oipc.nl.ca
or
www.staysafeonline.org/dpd.
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Media contact:
Ed Ring
Information and Privacy Commissioner
709-729-6309
2013 01 25 12:15 p.m.