When is Data Protection Day?

Data Protection Day is observed every year on January 28.

When was Data Protection Day established?

Data Protection Day was established in 2006.

What other anniversaries fall on January 28?

January 28 is also "Anecdote Day (Itsuwa no Hi)", "Copywriter Day", "Warning from Space Day". See the January 28 page for details.

January 28

Data Protection Day

Q: What is Data Protection Day?

Data Protection Day is an annual observance in Japan, held every year on January 28. What Is Data Protection Day? January 28 is Data Protection Day. It was established by the Committee of Ministers of the

World Observances

What Is Data Protection Day?

January 28 is Data Protection Day. It was established by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2006 (first observed in 2007) and is also known as Data Privacy Day in the United States. The date marks the anniversary of the opening for signature of the Council of Europe's Convention 108 on the protection of personal data on January 28, 1981.

What Is Convention 108?

Convention 108, the basis for Data Protection Day, holds an important place in the field of data protection.

The first legally binding international agreement: Convention 108 holds special status as the first legally binding international agreement on data protection and continues to influence data protection laws around the world.
January 28, 1981: The Council of Europe's Convention 108 was opened for signature on this day.
The Council of Europe's work: Resolutions from the Council of Europe on the privacy of individuals preceded, and partly served as a catalyst for, the earliest national data protection laws in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.
Convention 108+: On May 18, 2018, the amending protocol that modernizes Convention 108 as "Convention 108+" was adopted, incorporating some key principles and definitions of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The Council of Europe Is Not the EU

The Council of Europe is often confused with the EU (European Union), but it is a separate organization formed in the wake of World War II. In 2019, the Council of Europe adopted new guidelines on artificial intelligence and data protection to mark Data Protection Day, as part of its work to keep the Convention's principles up to date as technology advances.

Tips for Marking This Day

Check what personal information the apps on your smartphone can access
Review the passwords for the services you use
Check the privacy settings on your social media accounts
Review your workplace's rules for handling personal information

A Day to Be Mindful of Protecting Your Data

Now that the internet and smartphones are indispensable, our personal data is handled in many situations. Data Protection Day on January 28 is a day to think about the importance of privacy and personal data. Why not take a moment today to review your own settings and your workplace rules?