
Data Privacy Day (DPD), observed annually on January 28, is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the critical importance of safeguarding personal information. With cyber threats lurking around every corner of the internet, the day serves as a reminder for individuals and organizations alike to assess their online behavior and take proactive steps to protect their data from misuse.
The roots of Data Privacy Day trace back to 2006, when the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe designated January 28 as Data Protection Day. This date commemorates the signing of the Convention for the Protection of Individuals regarding Automatic Processing of Personal Data (Convention 108) in 1981, the first international treaty that laid the foundation for data protection laws across Europe and beyond.
As privacy concerns grew globally, Data Privacy Day became more widely recognized. In 2007, the initiative spread internationally, and by 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives officially recognized National Data Privacy Day, followed by the Senate in 2010 and 2011.
Locally, Jamaica’s Data Protection Act (2020) sets requirements around all aspects of the processing of personal data including its collection, storage, and use and applies to individuals or entities that collect data in or process personal data through Jamaica. Under the Act, the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) is responsible for monitoring compliance and enforcement, providing information to the public, releasing guidelines, and more.
eGov Jamaica Limited (eGovJa) is committed to safeguarding the privacy and security of personal data across all aspects of its operations. Recognizing the critical importance of data protection in fostering trust, compliance, and transparency, the Company’s Data Protection Policy sets forth our principles and defines our requirements for the responsible handling, storage, and processing of personal data. The policy outlines the measures necessary to protect the rights of data subjects and ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act (2020), and other applicable privacy regulations.
We take the opportunity to remind you that we each play a role in respecting the privacy of others and protecting eGovJa from data breaches. As we commemorate International Data Protection Week, you are reminded of the following tips:
- Protect your personal data from probing eyes.
- Be careful of what you share with others, on the Internet, and with organisations.
- Ask questions about why your personal data are being collected, for how long they will be stored, who will have access to them, and who, if anyone, they will be shared with and how they will be protected.
- Be vigilant. eGovJa respects the privacy rights of all and urges you to do the same.
- If you manage (collect, use, share, dispose of) anyone’s personal data, remember this rule of thumb: treat the personal data of others as carefully as you expect them to treat yours.