International Data Protection Day
January 28
On 28 January, International Data Protection Day is observed an initiative that originated in Europe with the aim of raising awareness about privacy and the security of personal information. Promoted by the Council of Europe since 2006, the day commemorates the signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dedicated to the protection of personal data.
The aims of this day can be summarized in three main ideas. The first is awareness: helping people understand what data they share, often without fully realizing it, who uses it, and for what purpose. The second aim is to inform people about rights and responsibilities: it is not enough to know that rights such as access, rectification, or deletion of personal data exist; it is essential to understand how to exercise them and to adopt everyday habits that reduce risks. The third aim is to highlight current challenges, as data protection is not a fixed issue. Technological developments continue to raise new concerns related to artificial intelligence, biometrics, mass surveillance, behavioural profiling, and hyper-personalized disinformation.
But what does all this have to do with convivence? Quite a lot. Living together means recognizing others as individuals worthy of respect, with rights and boundaries. Personal data is an extension of the individual: it reflects people’s lives, health, economic situation, ideas, relationships, and also their vulnerabilities.
Poor data management undermines convivence because it breaks trust. When we feel that every digital action is turned into a profile, that an image can be shared without control, or that sensitive information may fall into the wrong hands, we tend to become more distrustful and less willing to participate. Moreover, the irresponsible use of data can generate conflict and encourage harassment, discrimination, or the manipulation of opinions. Protecting data does not mean slowing progress, but establishing rules that allow innovation without sacrificing privacy.
This day therefore invites us to reflect on digital citizenship. Living together on the Internet means acting with respect: asking for consent before sharing other people’s information, reviewing privacy settings, strengthening security, and remembering that behind every piece of data there is a real person. When data is treated with respect, society lives together better, with greater trust, less fear, and more active participation.
