Data protection is more important now than ever. With the rise of modern technologies, more and more personal data is collected, exchanged and processed, without you always realising by whom, why, for what period of time and with what effects. You leave traces through your communications, your administrative procedures, your purchases, your payments or your travels.

Simple actions, such as posting photos on a social network, using a loyalty card in a store, clicking on a website, or finding a restaurant using an app on a smartphone, generate information about your personality, your surroundings and your lifestyle. This data collection is further amplified by the use of interconnected objects such as watches, toys, cameras, coffeemakers, thermostats, bathroom scales, and smart homes and cars. In our ultra-connected societies, the danger of misuse of this information should not be underestimated. Security breaches, data leaks, computer attacks and privacy breaches are unfortunately a reality.

You have data protection rights!

Giving more control to the individual over the use that is made of information concerning him, giving him back the means of his freedom to preserve a certain degree of anonymity and the privacy of his private life are shared expectations today by a large part of the population. International Data Protection Day is a time to remind citizens that they are not powerless. Data protection legislation gives them rights to control the use of their own personal data.

Why January 28?

This is the date of the opening for signature of the Council of Europe’s “Convention 108” (January 28, 1981). The latter was the first legally binding international instrument in this area. For 40 years, the convention has aimed to protect everyone against the misuse of data concerning them and to ensure transparency with regard to the files and processing of personal data. Convention 108 has strongly inspired current legislation in the field of data protection, including in particular the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

In 2006, the Council of Europe, with the support of the European Commission, solemnly proclaimed January 28 of each year as “International Data Protection Day.” The aim is to make citizens aware of the importance of protecting their personal data and respecting their fundamental rights and freedoms, in particular their privacy.

Organisation of the conference “Data protection and privacy in the face of the digitisation of work”

On January 28 at 5:00 p.m., the CNPD was organising a virtual conference on the theme “Data protection and privacy in the face of the digitisation of work” with presentations by

• Ms Isabelle Schlesser (Director of the Employment Development Agency/ADEM),
• Mr Jean-Jacques Rommes (President of the Economic and Social Council/CES) and
• Mr Christophe Buschmann et Monsieur Marc Lemmer (Commissaires de la CNPD).

CNPD Commissioner Marc Lemmer held a presentation entitled “Updates from the CNPD: How COVID-19 shaped our work in 2020.”

The speakers’ presentations were followed by a round table moderated by Mr. Jürgen Stoldt.

Click here for more details about the CNPD conference

Participation in the Data Privacy Day

The CNPD was also participating in the Data Privacy Day which took place on January 28 at 9:00 a.m.

The Data Privacy Day, organised by the Restena Foundation and the University of Luxembourg, is an annual event for people interested in data protection and the protection of privacy. The aim is to raise awareness and promote best practices in this area at European and international level.

CNPD Commissioner Marc Lemmer hold a presentation entitled “Updates from the CNPD: How COVID-19 shaped our work in 2020”.

Click here for more information about this event

The members of EDPB had decided to release a common message for the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Data Protection Day EDPB celebrates Data Protection Day