International Data Privacy Day is January 28, 2010. Data Privacy Day is an international celebration of the dignity of the individual expressed through personal information according to its sponsors . In this networked world, in which we are thoroughly digitized, with our identities, locations, actions, purchases, associations, movements, and histories stored as so many bits and bytes, we have to ask – who is collecting all of this – what are they doing with it – with whom are they sharing it?
For its part, Google has released a video highlighting the ways it uses some of that personal data it collects about you to make your life easier, and then explains that you can opt out of some of Google’s data collection policies.
Microsoft has released the results of a study on data privacy. According to the Microsoft survey the results illustrate how we, as a society, are still grappling with the intersection of privacy and online life. For example, 63 percent of consumers surveyed are concerned that online reputation might affect their personal and/or professional life, yet, less than half even consider their reputations when they post online content. Finally, Fewer than 15% of consumers in any of the countries surveyed believe that information found online would have an impact on their getting a job. The Microsoft study found 70% of surveyed HR professionals in U.S. have rejected a candidate based on online reputation information. Reputation can also have a positive effect as in the United States, 86% of HR professionals stated that a positive online reputation influences the candidate’s application to some extent; almost half stated that it does so to a great extent.
For its part, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has published, “The E-Book Buyer’s Guide to Privacy ” which outlines six elements of E book readers’ privacy policies of:
The EFF surveyed the polices and found that Google Books and Amazon Kindle will monitor what you’re reading. The EFF also found that all of the E-book readers will keep track of book searches and book purchases. 
The Kindle, Nook and Reader shared information collected on your book selections, searches, and purchases is shared outside the company without your consent. The good news is that the a free, open source FBReader (for Windows/Linux) does not collect data on your book selections or searches.
These privacy issues are important for citizens and businesses. Firms have to consider whether they are complying with laws and regulations requiring consumer privacy protections. They know that customers have to trust their technologies and services before they will use and pay for them.
