Privacy@Michigan event gives inside edge on protecting personal information

Every time we interact with technology — from remote work and classes to internet shopping and watching videos on our smartphones — we leave behind bits of information about us that can potentially cause issues to our privacy. 

January 28 is International Data Privacy Day — a day to spread awareness about online privacy and educate people on how to manage their personal information and keep it secure. University of Michigan’s Information and Technology Services and School of Information are hosting Privacy@Michigan, a month-long virtual event including speakers and workshops that highlight privacy topics.

“Technology can be useful and great but these data traces also carry privacy risks as they enable companies, governments, and criminals to create profiles about you,” says Florian Schaub, assistant professor of information and one of the co-organizers of the Privacy@Michigan events. 

“Often you might not even know that your privacy has been violated,” says Schaub. “You may never know that you didn’t get invited for that job interview because of something you posted eight years ago on social media or because a hiring algorithm decided based on data about you that you’re not a 'good fit' for the company.”

Keynote speaker Gabriela Zanfir-Fortuna, vice president for global privacy at the Future of Privacy Forum will speak about fairness in how personal data is used in our digital world. Schaub will host a fireside chat after the keynote address. Zanfir-Fortuna's talk is open to the public, and is on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. EST.

While there are a number of privacy issues that are long-standing, 2022 has a couple of pressing issues in particular. “One is extensive data collection by companies and how to create accountability for harms from this practice,” says Schaub. “The other is the rise in identity theft fueled by data breaches and extensive amounts of personal information online.” 

U-M students, faculty and staff are welcome at all events. The January 28 keynote presentation is open to the public. Find out more about Privacy@Michigan on the event page.

—Sarah Derouin, UMSI public relations specialist