Yesterday was Data Privacy Day. I received neither a card nor a cake, and as far as I know there was no parade down Fifth Ave. Nonethless, data privacy and protection affects us all.
Now that just about everyone I know is on facebook, it’s tough to even imagine a world anymore where our information isn’t stored in databases and on servers around the country. Though it’s the individual’s responsibility to keep software updated and out of harm’s way, breaches happen, and the more informed we all are, the better. This week’s announcement that a logo for ethical online data collection sites has been created is a step in at least notifying Web surfers of just how ubiquitous data-collecting ads and banners are. It will be interesting to see how the icon renders online, and how long it will take the mainstream public to catch on to what it means.
