We like to believe we’re getting better at data privacy. Yet breaches, misuse, and quiet over-collection continue to make headlines.

Data Privacy Day, held on January 28, is a chance to celebrate progress and recognize that privacy works best when people know their tools and feel confident using them.

Organizations handle sensitive data every day. But are they handling this data well?

Data Privacy Day is a chance to pause, ask tough questions, and make sure privacy is more than just a checkbox; it should be a core part of how our organizations operate.

Do your team members have the knowledge, clarity, and confidence to act when it matters? Or are they working without a clear understanding of how their choices affect privacy?

 

People Want Control, but They Need Clarity

Many organizations say they give people control over their data.

But most employees can’t answer simple questions: Who has access? What’s being collected? What can I change?

If those answers aren’t clear, there’s no real control.

Confusion takes the place of confidence, and people stop engaging.

True data control happens when employees know their options, understand the consequences, and act with purpose.

 

Policies Alone Don’t Protect People; Culture Does

Almost every organization today has a privacy policy.

On paper, they look solid, but everyday decisions tell a different story.

Data is often kept ‘just in case’ and shared freely, without anyone asking if it’s really needed.

To protect people, we need to move from collecting data to managing it with clear purpose.

Real accountability isn’t about more forms or approvals. It comes from clear workflows, fewer steps, and teams that speak up when something seems off.

A strong privacy culture lets people slow down, question assumptions, and act with care.

On Data Privacy Day, ask yourself: Are your policies shaping behavior, or are they just forgotten pages on your website?

 

Rights and Duties Need to Meet in the Middle

People have the right to limit, delete, or question how their data is used.

Organizations must respect those choices. For example, an email service that lets you turn off all tracking with one click gives people real control. Consent shouldn’t just be a box to check; it should be a choice you can act on right away.

Rules can make people follow the law, but culture is what builds trust. Compliance tells you what to do, but culture shows you how to live it out.

When employees see that privacy is respected, they act with confidence and speak up if something is wrong. When customers see their choices are honored, they trust the organization and feel safe. Privacy then feels fair, not like a barrier.

Data Privacy Day: Take Action, Not Just Reflection

Data Privacy Day isn’t about posters or slogans. It’s about closing the gap between what we know and what we do.

You’ve seen why clarity matters, where control is missing, and how culture shapes behavior. Now it’s time to take action.

Start by asking questions, but don’t stop there:

Questions Every Executive Should Ask

• Who in your organization can honestly answer where sensitive data lives and how it’s used?
• Are your teams able to make the right decisions when under pressure?
• If the answer is no, assign someone to fix it and remove any barriers that make responsible action hard.

For Individuals

• Check your own data footprint: what have you shared, and who can see it?
• Make one small change this week. Revoke unnecessary access, clean up shared files, or ask for clarification.
• Speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Your questions are the first line of defense.

The point is simple: asking questions isn’t enough on its own.

Answers and actions are what protect people and build trust. If no one knows the answer, that’s where you begin.

Find the gaps. Assign accountability. Take steps that truly make a difference.

When people understand their role, organizations create systems that make responsible choices easy, and culture supports careful decisions, privacy becomes a real source of trust and strength.

Data Privacy Day is the time to turn awareness into action, theory into practice, and responsibility into real, everyday behavior.

This article was written by Cywareness, a company specializing in cybersecurity awareness.

As part of its mission, Cywareness continues to monitor emerging trends, analyze real-world attacks, and share practical insights to help organizations stay ahead in today’s evolving threat landscape.