Observance guideSource-backed

Data Protection Day2026 · Date · History

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 signature in 1981.

Annual dateReviewed 2026-10-01

About Data Protection Day

Data Protection Day is observed annually on January 28.

The Council of Europe launched the observance to raise awareness of personal-data protection and privacy rights.

Why Data Protection Day matters

The day is an international awareness observance centered on data protection, privacy and the responsibilities of institutions processing personal data.

Outside Europe the occasion is also commonly called Privacy Day, but this guide preserves the Council of Europe’s Data Protection Day identity and origin.

History of Data Protection Day

On April 26, 2006, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers decided to launch Data Protection Day for annual celebration on January 28.

January 28 was selected because Convention 108, the Council of Europe’s data-protection convention, opened for signature on January 28, 1981.

Council of Europe materials continue to describe the day as an annual global observance and organize activities around it.

The observance’s purpose is public education and awareness rather than individualized legal advice about a specific privacy dispute.

Institutional timeline

How the observance developed

This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.

Establishment26 April 2006
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers decision CM/Del/Dec(2006)962/10.1
Current stewardshipCurrent
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe continues to publish and coordinate Data Protection Day activities and materials.

Origins & establishment

What the evidence establishes

Evidence & sources ↓

Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.

Proclaiming / establishing bodyCommittee of Ministers of the Council of EuropeCouncil of Europe sources state that the Committee of Ministers decided in 2006 to designate/launch Data Protection Day.

Original establishing instrument / decisionCouncil of Europe Committee of Ministers decision CM/Del/Dec(2006)962/10.1Council of Europe records identify the 2006 Committee of Ministers decision as establishing the annual observance.

Original instrument adoption / decision date26 April 2006Council of Europe sources state that the decision to launch the day was taken on 26 April 2006.

Current facilitator / coordinatorCouncil of EuropeThe Council of Europe continues to publish and coordinate Data Protection Day activities and materials.

Why this exact date?January 28 marks the opening for signature of Convention 108 on January 28, 1981.Council of Europe sources explicitly state that the date was selected for the Convention 108 anniversary.

4 fields not established in reviewed sources

Originator / proposerThe reviewed sources identify the Council of Europe decision-making body, but do not establish a single individual originator or proposer.

First observanceThe reviewed sources establish the 2006 launch decision and annual recurrence but are not used here to assert a separately documented first completed edition.

Former namePrivacy Day is a concurrent international name, not treated as a verified former official name.

Former dateNo verified former recurring date is established.

Source qualityHigh confidence

3 Primary institutional / legal1 Official organizer

View all sources ↓

How to Observe Data Protection Day

Review privacy settings, account permissions and data-sharing practices using trusted guidance from regulators and service providers.

Learn the basic principles of personal-data protection and the rights available under the law that applies to you.

Organizations can use the day for staff education, transparency reviews and security-awareness activities.

Use the Council of Europe and national data-protection authorities for authoritative legal and policy information.

For a specific legal dispute, consult the competent regulator or qualified legal professional rather than relying on a general awareness guide.

Data Protection Day Facts

Fact 01

Data Protection Day is January 28 each year.

Fact 02

The Council of Europe decided to launch the observance on April 26, 2006.

Fact 03

The date marks the January 28, 1981 opening for signature of Convention 108.

Fact 04

The day is now observed globally and is often called Privacy Day outside Europe.

Fact 05

The Council of Europe continues to coordinate and publish Data Protection Day activities.

Classification

Topic and context

Community, Causes & Advocacy →

Community, Causes & Advocacy Safety Prevention

Accuracy notes

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.

Evidence

Evidence & sources

Source policy →

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.

Source 01www.coe.int

Council of Europe — 28 January Data Protection Day (opens in a new tab)

Observance recordPrimary institutional / legalGuide sources

Intergovernmental Organization

Source 02www.coe.int

Council of Europe — Data Protection Day (opens in a new tab)

Observance recordPrimary institutional / legalGuide sources

Intergovernmental Organization

Source 03www.coe.int

Council of Europe — Data Protection Day editions (opens in a new tab)

Observance recordPrimary institutional / legalGuide sources

Intergovernmental Organization

Source 04

Council of Europe

Official organizer

Questions & connections

Understand it, compare it, then explore further

Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.

Reader questions

Frequently asked questions

When is Data Protection Day?

28 January The documented recurrence rule is: 28 January.

Does Data Protection 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 an official public holiday?

The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Council of Europe-designated international privacy observance. 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?

The reviewed sources identify Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Council of Europe.

Is Data Protection Day international or country-specific?

The documented scope is international or global: Council of Europe-designated international privacy observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.

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 2026-10-01.

When is Data Protection Day?

It is observed every year on January 28.

Who established Data Protection Day?

The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers decided on April 26, 2006 to launch an annual Data Protection Day.

Why January 28?

It marks January 28, 1981, when the Council of Europe’s Convention 108 on data protection opened for signature.

Is Data Protection Day the same as Privacy Day?

The Council of Europe says the observance is now global and is called Privacy Day outside Europe; this guide retains the original Data Protection Day identity.

Same date