Data Privacy Day: Simple steps to protect your personal information

Every year on Data Privacy Day (28 January), organisations and individuals around the world take a moment to reflect on how personal data is collected, shared, and protected. In an increasingly digital world, understanding data privacy isn’t just a technical issue it’s an essential life skill.

As a member of our community, your trust matters. This Data Privacy Day is a good opportunity to pause, review your digital habits, and take a few simple steps to keep your information safe.

Why data privacy matters

Your personal data tells a story about you, who you are, what you care about, where you go, and how you interact online. When managed responsibly, data can improve services and experiences. When misunderstood or overshared, it can increase the risk of fraud, identity theft, or unwanted contact.

Being privacy-aware doesn’t mean avoiding digital tools altogether. It means making informed choices.

1. Take five minutes to check your privacy settings

Many online platforms default to broader data sharing than you might expect. A quick review can make a big difference.

What to look for:

• Social media profile visibility (public vs private)
• Who can see your posts, photos, or activity
• App permissions (location, contacts, microphone, camera)
• Marketing preferences and third-party data sharing
• Account recovery options and backup email addresses

Top tip:
If you haven’t reviewed your settings in the last year, it’s worth doing as many platforms often update their policies and features.

To update your settings on the APM Community you can check your profile settings.

2. Understand the privacy statement (yes, really)

Privacy statements can feel long and technical, but they explain how your data is used and protected. You don’t need to read every word but focus on the parts that matter most.

Key sections to scan:

• What data is collected
• Why it’s collected
• Who it’s shared with (if anyone)
• How long it’s kept
• Your rights over your data
• How to contact the organisation about privacy concerns

In the UK and EU, data protection laws give you rights such as accessing your data, correcting inaccuracies, and requesting deletion in certain circumstances. Knowing this empowers you to ask the right questions.

3. Be cautious about who you share your data with

Before handing over personal information, pause and ask yourself:

• Do they really need this information?
• Is this a trusted organisation or individual?
• How will my data be stored and used?

Be especially careful with:

• Unsolicited emails or messages asking for details
• Online competitions or giveaways
• Requests for personal information on social media
• Forms asking for more data than seems necessary

Remember: legitimate organisations will never pressure you to share sensitive information urgently.

4. Think about where you share your data

Public spaces online can feel informal, but information shared there can be permanent and searchable.

Consider:

• What you post publicly versus privately
• Whether comments or photos reveal location, routines, or personal details
• How much information is visible on old accounts you no longer use

A useful habit is to occasionally search for your own name and review what’s publicly accessible, you might be surprised.

5. Small habits that make a big difference

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to improve your privacy. These everyday actions help reduce risk:

• Use strong, unique passwords (and a password manager if possible)
• Enable two-factor authentication where available
• Keep devices and apps updated
• Log out of shared or public devices
• Delete apps or accounts you no longer use

Data privacy is ongoing, not one-off

Data Privacy Day isn’t about fear it’s about awareness. Technology will continue to evolve, and so will the ways data is collected and used. Checking in on your digital habits once or twice a year helps ensure your choices still reflect your comfort level.

If you have questions about how we use or protect member data, our privacy statement is always available, and we’re happy to help.

Taking a little time today can help protect you tomorrow.

Read APM's Privacy Statement on our main website.

APM’s drive for Data Literacy for All aims to promote the adoption of five critical skills required to benefit from data analytics and artificial intelligence:

• Managing project information – organising data
• Foundations of data – speaking the language of data
• Interpreting and influencing with data
• Data visualisation and storytelling
• Decision-making with data

Whatever your role, data literacy offers a key to future project success.