From:

Mary Ann Bella

Outreach Coordinator

Data Privacy Day 2008

Phone: (919) 942-4770

Governor Declares January 28

as Data Privacy Day in North Carolina

Celebrate and Educate: Raise Teen Awareness of Internet Privacy Issues

Did you know that 55% of American teens have profiles on social networking sites, and many more use the Internet daily to communicate with others, conduct research, game and shop? Teens are among the most innovative users of the Internet, but they are also among the most vulnerable. One recent study concluded that 49% of social network users use the networks to make “new friends,” and 32% of online teens have been contacted by strangers online. It is essential for students to understand how to network safely and protect the privacy of their personal information online.

Governor Easley has declared January 28 to be Data Privacy Day in North Carolina. (Read the full Proclamation at www.governor.state.nc.us/Proclamation_FullStory.asp)  In honor of this day, which is being celebrated by the U.S. in conjunction with 27 European countries, participants in Data Privacy Day invite teachers of grades 7-12 to discuss Internet privacy issues with students or to welcome privacy experts from their communities to lead these discussions on or around January 28.

To help raise awareness about data privacy and contribute to the privacy day observance, Intel Corporation has created a PowerPoint presentation and script titled “Teen Privacy Online,” which addresses:

• Guidelines for protecting personal info. while participating in social networks

• The importance of privacy policies and how to read them, and

• General information about protecting against online security risks.

These materials, a classroom handout and links to other resources are available at www.privacyassociation.org. (Click links to Data Privacy Day and Educational Presentations.) This website is hosted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), a supporter of Data Privacy Day.

The Data Privacy Day observance is to promote an understanding of personal privacy issues in our high-tech era. Raising teens' awareness about the need to limit the personal information they share on social networking sites can help them use the Internet and network effectively, responsibly and safely. We hope you will participate.

Additional Information:

Data Privacy Day 2008 in the U.S. was organized by Leonardo Cervera, a European Commission Fellow at Duke University, with the assistance of many U.S. corporate, government and nonprofit supporters. In addition to Intel and IAPP, Microsoft, Google, Quintiles, Proctor & Gamble, Oracle and IBM are supporters of Data Privacy Day and this educational presentation.

As part of the privacy day effort, we have encouraged privacy professionals to reach out to middle and high schools and make presentations to teens. You can participate in this awareness effort by welcoming these volunteers into your school when they call or by inviting teachers to use the IAPP website materials as a guide to talk with students. Please note the list of websites that are attached to the presentation. These sites provide Internet safety information directed at teens.

The statistics cited above are drawn from PEW Internet & American Life Project, Teens Privacy & Online Social Networks: How teens manage their online identities and personal information in the age of MySpace (April 18, 2007).