Every day, a data protection day - Oyedokun

ITRealms:

The Chairman, Governing Council of the Institute of Information Management (IIM) Africa, Dr. Oyedokun Ayodeji Oyewole, has called on Nigerians to make every day, a data protection day, reports ITRealms.

He made this call at the commemoration of the 2016 World Data Privacy Day in Lagos, in a paper he delivered as guest speaker on ‘Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust’.

This is coming as the event organiser, Data and Information Privacy Protection Initiatives (DIPPI), launched a book titled: Data Privacy Hand Book, authored by Tokunbo Smith.

Oyedokun noted that essentially business leaders and other stakeholders should understand the full risk potential of data privacy threats and how to address these issues.

Oyedokun traced the origins of data protection day to an educational initiative originally focused on raising awareness among businesses as well as users about the importance of protecting the privacy fo their personal information online, particularly in the context of social networking.

According to him, the educational focus has since expanded over the past four years to include families, consumers and businesses.

In addition, he said, its educational initiative, data privacy day promotes events and activities that stimulate the development of technology tools that promote individual control over personally identifiable information, so as to encourage compliance with privacy laws and regulations and create dialogues among stakeholders.

ITRealms recalls that the World Data Privacy Day was initiated by the Council of Europe in 2007, while the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution to declare January 28 as National Data Privacy Day.

The 32-page booklet by Smith, ITRealms gathered, discussed the essence, value of privacy as well as the human dignity attached to the guiding of personal data and vital information.

The book endeavoured to do some working references to some legal background protecting the privacy of every individual in the use and sharing of information on the social media.

One of the discussants at the event held at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo, Lagos, Mr. Akintunde Esan, a lawyer in the Lagos State civil service who represented the state  Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Hon. Akeem Kazeems, said that one could sue anyone for breach of one’s right of privacy.

Esan also advised that people going into contractual agreements should always include the clause in respect of nondisclosure policy, especially in the employer and employee relationship.

Talking about Cyber Crime, he also warned that anyone who disclosed any piece of information in his custody about somebody else’s personal data risks without due permission, risks a jail term of at least 10 years.

 
Banji Bayo/GEE
 

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