Wednesday is Data Privacy Day

Unfurl the festive banners and prepare the parades: Wednesday is the second annual Data Privacy Day, celebrated by the U.S., Canada, and 27 European countries. Intel co-sponsors the project, which includes a variety of events held on and around the special day.

In the US, six states (Arizona, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington) have declared Wednesday Data Privacy Day; in the US House of Representatives, 50 Congresspersons so far have signed on to co-sponsor a national version H.R. 31, a proclamation declaring Data Privacy Day, passed 402-0. In Canada, they're focusing efforts on educating The Kids about privacy on Facebook and similar sites. And in Europe, where this is in fact the third Data Protection Day, various efforts are also underway to educate the youth.

If you're in a large US city, the site linked above lists dozens of panels and events that'll appeal to the privacy-aware. But why attend services that preach to the converted? Perhaps the best way to observe Data Privacy Day is to reach out to the unchurched. Convince your mom not to answer those Nigerian e-mails that ask for her bank-account information. Explain to a 13-year-old why she shouldn't put her phone number on her MySpace page. Find a Magic 8-Ball and ask if you're one of the people who'll eventually find out that their personal data was compromised in the Heartland breach. Find ways to make the spirit of Data Privacy Day last all year 'round!