It’s Data Privacy Week – Put Privacy First

Data Privacy Week is all about raising awareness around the importance of protecting personal information and respecting privacy rights.

It commemorates the anniversary of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection.

The University of Victoria is committed to putting privacy first in all initiatives, services, and systems. We will always safeguard personal information and ensure transparency in how your data is managed.

We encourage all members of our community to familiarize yourself with best practices for protecting data when using apps, review the University’s Privacy Policy, and check out these tips from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to protect your personal information.

Putting privacy first isn’t just a philosophy – its also a legal requirement. You can ensure that you are prioritizing privacy by:

1. Always completing a privacy impact assessment before beginning any new initiative that collects information or when an existing initiative is substantially changed.
2. Completing the 2024 Staff Privacy Training or the 2024 Faculty Privacy Training.
3. Never using personal information for a reason that is different from the reason the information was collected.

For more information on your responsibilities for data privacy or if you need guidance on how to “Put Privacy First”, reach out to the Privacy and Access to Information Office.