UCSB is proud to celebrate International Data Privacy Week, observed from January 26–30. Data Privacy Week is an annual initiative held at the end of January to educate and raise awareness about the importance of protecting personal data and online information. As our digital lives continue to expand, understanding how our data is collected, shared, and protected has never been more important.


This year’s Data Privacy Week comes at a time of significant change in the privacy landscape. Beginning January 1, 2026, new state privacy laws will take effect in Kentucky, Indiana, and Rhode Island, bringing the total number of states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws to 19. While Kentucky and Indiana follow commonly adopted privacy frameworks, Rhode Island’s law introduces lower compliance thresholds and unique requirements, including mandatory disclosure of all third-party data buyers. Organizations operating across state lines will need to update privacy policies, respond to consumer rights requests, and closely review data-sharing practices to remain compliant.


Here in California, new regulations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) further strengthen consumer data protections. These updates increase transparency and consumer choice around automated decision-making, require regular privacy risk assessments for high-risk data processing, and introduce independent cybersecurity audit requirements for organizations handling large volumes of personal data. Compliance deadlines begin in 2027, reinforcing higher standards for data governance and security.
 

Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Privacy


Everyone has a role to play in protecting personal information. Here are a few simple but effective steps you can take:

  • Review and adjust privacy settings. Check the privacy settings on your apps and social media accounts to ensure they reflect what you want to share and with whom. Don’t rely on default settings. Visit staysafeonline.org for guidance.
  • Secure all devices, especially smartphones. Smartphones often contain sensitive personal and academic information. Enable security features such as device encryption and remote wipe.
  • Use strong, unique passwords. Create complex passwords for each account and never reuse or share them.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of protection, making it much harder for unauthorized users to access your accounts.
  • Use a password manager. Encrypted password managers help you securely store and manage unique passwords for every site.
  • Guard your personal information. Keep details like your birthday, phone number, and other identifying information private whenever possible.
  • Separate university and personal accounts. Use different accounts for UCSB-related activities and personal use to reduce risk.
  • Only approve push notifications you personally initiate. Unexpected push requests may be an attempt by an attacker to gain unauthorized access to your account.


This Data Privacy Week, take a moment to reflect on your digital habits and take control of your data. Small, proactive steps can make a big difference in protecting your privacy.