Privacy Awareness Week

May 1 marks the start of Privacy Awareness Week 2011. 


The theme this year is  'Privacy: it's all about you'. During Privacy Awareness Week, people are encouraged to exercise their privacy rights and to take steps to make sure their personal information is handled appropriately. 

Privacy Awareness Week is a joint Asia Pacific Privacy Authority (APPA) initiative.

The focus of this year's joint campaign with the Asia Pacific Privacy Authority (APPA) has been making everyone who uses social networking sites aware of how to protect their personal information, by utilising the privacy settings.

Remember 'PPP': protect your privacy profile.

Top 4 privacy safety tips online - You are your best protector online.

1. Information about you is valuable.  If it is not clear, ask what your information will be used for and whether it will be given to anyone else.  Find out what information your favourite online functions or apps collect about you.

2. Manage your online reputation and remember that the more embarrassing a photo is, the more likely it is to travel around the world.  Think before you post!

3. Privacy settings quickly become out of date as sites change their policies and practices.  Review your privacy settings regularly. 

4. Identity theft is big business.  Use secure internet connections if you are giving information out online and be sure who you're giving it to.

from: 

Cyber safe and savvy information sheet
How private is your profile?
Privacy: it's not a secret

7 Things You Should Know About Privacy in Web 2.0 Learning Environments | EDUCAUSE

In addition to the survey and animation on social networking and privacy developed with the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities, there is also a range of awareness materials for you to use during Privacy Awareness Week.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse provide  ten tips below to minimize your risk of identity theft, protect your personal information and assert your rights to privacy.

1. Be assertive in guarding your privacy when you are asked to provide sensitive information that you do not feel is necessary.  If someone (including healthcare providers, government agencies and employers) asks for your personal information, ask these 5 questions:

1. Is providing my information required or voluntary? (Provide only the minimum information necessary.)
2. Why do you need this information and how will it be used?
3. Do you have a written policy regarding the request for information?
4. Who will have access to my information and how will it be protected from unauthorized access?  (Remember to ask about third parties!)
5. If, when and how will the records be discarded when they are no longer needed?

 Guard your mail.  Your mailbox often may contain letters which if lost or stolen can   result in identity theft.
 Check your credit reports. 
 Find out what’s in your consumer specialty reports.
 Avoid using debit or check cards.  Credit cards provide better consumer protections, and help protect your bank account from fraudulent activity.
 Sign up for the National Do-Not-Call List to limit unwanted telephone solicitations.   www.donotcall.gov.
 Stop pre-approved credit and insurance offers in the mail. 
Understand the benefits and risks of social networking.

NSWDE(t)C staff also have The Privacy Page which tries to explain our privacy obligations  

 as a NSW public sector organisation and to provide practical guidance to schools in how to deal with privacy issues. 
There are privacy bulletins and a link to NSWDE(t)C  privacy code of conduct available.