January 28th is Data Protection Day (Europe) and Data Privacy Day (US). As a modern internet user, trying to protect your data can feel a little like being King Canute trying to turn back the tide. Every website wants to set tracking cookies; wants to get your email address; wants you to create an account. Even when you're shopping in a brick & mortar shop, you're asked for your email address for your receipt. These are just some of the most obvious attacks - many more are happening without you noticing.
So what can we do? There are two ways to protect your privacy online - individual actions and collective actions.
It's not realistic to expect people to disconnect from the internet. Whether it's paying taxes, managing bank accounts or staying in touch with friends, everything is getting harder to do in person - internet access has become a necessity in modern Britain, and in much of the world. So, instead of disconnecting, you can make small changes which add up to protect your data and your identity.
You don't have to try to do everything all at once - that would be overwhelming.
Instead, why not make one small change today? Carey Parker's fantastic blog, Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons, is a great place to start learning about how to improve your digital security. Have a look at his Data Privacy Day Checklist and see if you can tick one item off today.
Individual actions won't change the world. While regulations allow companies to monopolise the things that we need, and governments listen to bad advice, we can't stand against them by ourselves. Instead, we need their mis-steps and wrongdoings to be brought out into the light, and we need legislation to change to protect us and force companies to do the right thing.
Writing to your government representative is a valuable step. In the UK, you can find your local MP's details on the Parliament site: Find Your MP.
As well as expressing general concerns, you may want to comment on specific policies or announcements that are of concern. For example, Labour has just replaced the head of the Competition & Markets Authority, a globally-important watchdog, with the head of Amazon China. That's not a positive step for data rights, so why not mark Data Protection Day by writing to your local MP and letting them know about your concerns?
If you'd like to know more about the changes at the CMA, read more here:
As well as contacting your representative, you can support organisations who are fighting your corner. For example, in the UK we have the Open Rights Group, and in the US there's the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Organisations like these report on issues relating to digital privacy and security, and also campaign on related issues.
Here are some excellent blogs you could follow if you're interested in data protection and digital security. All of them offer RSS feeds, so you can stay up-to-date however you like.