BUI is supporting Data Privacy Week as a Champion organisation, promoting transparency, trust, and practical steps to help you take control of your personal data.
BUI is proud to announce its commitment to Data Privacy Week 2026, taking place from 26-30 January, by registering as an official Data Privacy Week Champion.
As a Champion organisation, BUI recognises and supports the principle that all organisations share the responsibility of being conscientious stewards of personal information. In an era where data is generated constantly (often without people even realising it), respecting privacy is a fundamental component of trust.
Why Data Privacy Week matters
Data Privacy Week is a global awareness initiative led in North America by the National Cybersecurity Alliance. Originally launched as Data Privacy Day, the campaign has expanded into a full week to reflect the growing importance of privacy in our always-connected, data-driven world.
The goal of Data Privacy Week is twofold: to help individuals understand that they have power and choice over their personal data, and to help organisations understand why respecting data privacy is essential to maintaining transparency and accountability.
Today, data privacy is about much more than screen-locking and device security. It includes how information about us – our identities, locations, behaviours, and preferences – is collected, managed, and protected online. At its core, data privacy is about our right to decide how much of our personal information is visible, accessible, or shared – and with whom.
When we browse a website, stream a video, or use a mobile app, we’re generating vast amounts of information about ourselves and our habits. This data is valuable and often monetised by service providers, advertisers, and data brokers – even when it’s claimed to be anonymised.
This year, Data Privacy Week highlights the growing expectation that organisations treat privacy as a core value rather than a compliance exercise, notes BUI Group Governance and Compliance Manager Dhiren Boodhia. “Every organisation that handles personal information has a duty to be deliberate about how that data is collected, used, and secured. Data Privacy Week is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and make sure those decisions are being made with people top of mind,” he says.
Take control of your personal data in 2026
While it’s difficult to control how each byte of data about you is processed, you are not powerless. Data Privacy Week is all about taking practical steps to manage your personal information.
Step 1 | Know what you can – and cannot – control
When you download a new app, create an online account, or sign up for a digital service, you’re often asked to share personal information before you can even get started. This might include access to your location, contacts, photos, or data about how you use your device.
For the organisations offering “free” services, personal data is often a key part of the value exchange. That doesn’t mean you should automatically say no – but it does mean it’s worth pausing to assess whether the service you’re getting is a fair return for the data being requested. One way to approach these decisions is to think about necessity. Ask yourself:
- Is the data being requested genuinely needed for the app/service to function as expected?
- Does the type of access requested make sense in terms of what the app/service delivers?
- Can you limit permissions and still use the app/service successfully?
Once you understand this trade-off between privacy and convenience, it becomes easier to make smarter choices about your data – and often, you can still use digital apps and services while sharing far less information than you initially thought necessary.
Step 2 | Review and adjust your privacy settings regularly
Most apps and digital services include privacy and security settings that let you manage how your personal information is used. These settings usually only take a few minutes to review, but they’re often overlooked.
Even if an app or service doesn’t actively ask for certain data, it’s safest to assume it may still be collecting information in the background. That’s why it’s a good idea to review your privacy settings regularly to make sure they still reflect your level of comfort.
As a starting point, consider turning the following permissions off unless they’re essential and you trust the app or service:
- Camera
- Microphone
- Location
You don’t need to review everything at once. Start with one device or a handful of apps, and build the habit over time. Regular check-ins can make a meaningful difference to how much data you share.
Step 3 | Protect your data with strong security habits
Strong security habits help ensure that your personal information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, whether through account compromise, malware, or social engineering. Along with managing your data privacy settings, remember these tips to safeguard your information:
- Use long, strong, unique passwords for every account and device. Avoid reusing passwords, and consider a reputable password manager to create and store them securely.
- Enable multi-factor authentication wherever it’s available. This adds an extra layer of protection, even if attackers steal or guess a password.
- Keep your devices, browsers, and apps up to date. Updates often include security fixes, so turning on automatic updates (or installing them promptly) helps address known vulnerabilities.
- Be alert to phishing attempts. Phishing emails, text messages, or direct messages often try to create urgency or trick you into clicking a malicious link or sharing sensitive information.
Together, these habits can help protect not just your data, but your digital identity as a whole.
Throughout Data Privacy Week, we’ll be sharing tips and resources to help you become more aware of data privacy at work, at home, and on the move. Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and join the conversation by using the #DataPrivacyWeek hashtag online.
About Data Privacy Week
Data Privacy Week began as Data Privacy Day in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Data Protection Day commemorates the 28 January 1981 signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. The National Cybersecurity Alliance, the United States’ leading non-profit, public-private partnership promoting cybersecurity and privacy education and awareness, leads the effort in North America each year. For more information, visit www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-week/.
About the National Cybersecurity Alliance
The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) is a non-profit organisation on a mission to create a more secure, interconnected world. The NCA advocates for the safe use of all technology and educates everyone on how best to protect themselves, their families, and their organisations from cybercrime. The NCA creates strong partnerships between governments and corporations to amplify its message and to foster a greater digital good. For more information, visit www.staysafeonline.org.