Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day2026 · Date · History
The Council of Europe states that its Committee of Ministers designated 28 January as Data Protection Day in 2006 and that the day is now celebrated worldwide under names including International Data Protection Day and Privacy Day.
About Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day
Data Protection Day is observed on January 28 and was launched by the Council of Europe.
The observance marks the anniversary of the opening for signature of Convention 108, the Council of Europe’s data-protection treaty.
Why Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day matters
The day is intended to raise awareness about personal-data protection and privacy rights.
Outside Europe and in wider international usage, the observance may also be called International Data Protection Day or Privacy Day.
History of Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day
Convention 108 opened for signature on January 28, 1981.
On April 26, 2006, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers decided to launch Data Protection Day to be celebrated each year on January 28.
Council of Europe material says the observance is now celebrated worldwide and uses International Data Protection Day and Privacy Day as wider naming variants.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
Council of Europe material states that the Committee of Ministers decided to launch the observance in 2006.
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
Committee of Ministers decision launching Data Protection Day
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe continues to coordinate and promote Data Protection Day activities.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Data Privacy Day
How to Observe Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day
Use January 28 as the recurring date.
When describing the origin, distinguish the 1981 treaty anniversary from the 2006 decision creating the observance.
Treat Privacy Day and International Data Protection Day as current usage variants unless a specific jurisdiction documents a separate legal designation.
Use the day for practical privacy and data-protection education rather than overstating its legal effect.
Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day Facts
Data Protection Day is observed on January 28.
The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers launched it in 2006.
The date marks Convention 108 opening for signature on January 28, 1981.
The Council of Europe says the day is celebrated globally under multiple names.
The observance itself is distinct from the treaty and from national privacy laws.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Council of Europe (opens in a new tab)
Council of Europe (opens in a new tab)
Council of Europe — Data Protection Day (opens in a new tab)
Intergovernmental
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day?
28 January The documented recurrence rule is: 28 January.
Does Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Council of Europe / worldwide privacy-awareness usage. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day?
The reviewed sources identify Council of Europe Committee of Ministers as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Council of Europe.
Is Data Protection Day / International Data Protection Day / Privacy Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Council of Europe / worldwide privacy-awareness usage. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-07.
When is Data Protection Day?
It is observed each year on January 28.
Who established Data Protection Day?
The Council of Europe says its Committee of Ministers decided in 2006 to launch the day.
Why January 28?
It marks the January 28, 1981 opening for signature of Convention 108.
Is Data Privacy Day the same thing?
“Privacy Day” and “International Data Protection Day” are widely used current names, but jurisdiction-specific terminology should not be treated as a formal rename without evidence.
Other observances on January 28
These observances are also listed on January 28, 2027.
Data Protection Day
The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers decided on 26 April 2006 to launch Data Protection Day for annual celebration on 28 January, the anniversary of Convention 108 opening for signa…
Global Community Engagement Day
The Consultation Institute identifies January 28 as Global Community Engagement Day and describes Engage 2 Act as the creator of the observance.
International Day of Peaceful Coexistence
A/RES/79/269
José Martí birth anniversary
Granma identifies January 28 as the birth anniversary of Cuba’s National Hero José Martí and documents recurring commemorations around that date.
National Blueberry Pancake Day
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council repeatedly identifies January 28 as National Blueberry Pancake Day and publishes promotional assets for the date.