Governor Stein Proclaims Jan. 28 Data Privacy Day in North Carolina to Promote the Importance of Safeguarding Personal Data

Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed Jan. 28 Data Privacy Day in North Carolina to remind all North Carolinians of the importance of protecting personal information. This day falls during Data Privacy Week, an annual international effort to highlight privacy, protect data, and enable trust.

"Our personal information is valuable, and there are bad actors who work to profit from it at your expense," said Governor Josh Stein. "Please take action to protect your data and get informed on new risks to your privacy."

"Our goal is to help North Carolinians recognize the importance of data privacy and the practical ways we can all safeguard what we share about ourselves and others," said N.C. Department of Information Technology Secretary Teena Piccione. "Our department is also focused on protecting the data entrusted to the state and ensuring its responsible use, particularly within today's quickly changing digital world."

North Carolina's Office of Privacy and Data Protection, within the N.C. Department of Information Technology, oversees the state's efforts to ensure data is handled and used responsibly. The office also provides education and training to employees on how to keep data safe.

"All of your online activity generates a trail of data, and when you download a new app, open a new online account, or join a new social media platform, you will often be asked for access to your personal information," said Martha Wewer, the state's chief privacy officer. "Websites, apps, and services collect data on your behaviors, interests, and purchases. This can include personal data and even physical data, such as a smartwatch tracking how many steps you take. While you can't control everything about how your data is used, it's important to remember that you can be selective about the data you share and who you share it with."

Here are some important questions to ask yourself before sharing your data:

• Is it worth it? Using an app, service, or game may not be worth the amount or type of personal data you have to share in return. Take the time to review privacy policies, notices, and user agreements, and make sure you agree with how your information will be used.
• Is it relevant? Ask yourself why an app, game, or company would need access to personal information that isn't related to the service it provides. If you aren't comfortable with what it's requiring you to share, don't use it. If you do use an app, turn off features like location services when they aren't needed to limit the amount of information you are sharing.
• Can I control it? Each device, app, or browser has features to limit how and with whom data is shared. It is important to check these regularly and adjust them as needed. You can use these direct links to update settings on popular devices and online services.
• Should I keep it? Delete inactive accounts and apps you don't use, which may still be collecting and sharing data. Keep all software, operating systems, and apps that you do use up to date.
• Should I post it? Think before posting information about yourself or others online. Remember that information you post online lives on forever, and even if you have privacy settings in place on your social media accounts, your posts can still be shared by others. Never take online quizzes that ask you to share personal information.
• Should I tell AI? While generative AI can be a helpful tool, it is important to remember that AI systems learn from user inputs and you should not share any private information with AI, including personal details, financial information, or data from your workplace. AI models also often scrape data from the internet and may use information you share publicly online.

In addition to asking these questions and adopting best practices yourself, it is important to talk with your family members and others about data privacy and ensure they are aware of the steps they need to take to protect their personal information.

NCDIT will be sharing privacy tips and resources throughout the week on social media using the hashtag #DataPrivacyWeek. Learn more about why privacy matters and get additional privacy tips and resources on NCDIT's website.

Read the Data Privacy Day proclamation here.

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For more information about the N.C. Department of Information Technology, visit https://it.nc.gov or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr.