Twitter marks Data Privacy Day with events in the US and Europe

A commitment to protecting the privacy of account holders is built into the DNA of Twitter. As such, this Data Privacy Day (@DataPrivacyDay), which falls on January 28 each year, we backed the overall mission to raise awareness of privacy issues and data protection best practices. This message reaches a broad variety of actors in society - individuals, families and corporations - as all of them have an interest in protecting their data and privacy. To mark the day, we held an event at our San Francisco headquarters and in Dublin, our headquarters for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

In the US, we partnered with the National Cyber Security Alliance (@StaySafeOnline) to bring together top privacy experts from around the country. The event featured TED-style talks, segments and interviews focusing on the latest privacy issues for consumers and business.

Twitter has a strong history of collaboration with NCSA. They are members of our Trust and Safety Council, providing us with ongoing advice and we have partnered on initiatives like #LockDownYourLogin and National Cyber Security Awareness Month. @StaySafeOnline put together a compelling program, which included themed discussions on Scams, ID Theft and Fraud, How to Read a Privacy Policy in Less Than 60 Seconds and Growing Up Online and the Need for Teaching Privacy in Schools.

Our Director of Privacy, @lpirri, joined the Women in Privacy panel and discussed her passion for the subject, as well as positive uses of the Twitter platform like #PositionOfStrength, our women’s empowerment initiative.

In Ireland, the Minister for Data Protection and European Affairs, Dara Murphy (@DaraMurphyFG), visited Twitter Dublin for a LIVE Periscope Q&A. As questions came in on the hashtag #AskDara, John Kennedy (@MrJohnFKennedy) of Silicon Republic interviewed the Minister on the EU-US Privacy Shield, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Ireland’s regional role as hub for multinational and homegrown tech companies.

Just as Data Protection Day focuses on initiatives to promote awareness among businesses, families and individuals on their rights and obligations, the Minister discussed how that kind of work is being rolled out in Ireland. Over 470 viewers joined the broadcast.

For more on Twitter’s commitment to privacy, check out here.