Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr Andrew Wheatley, on Wednesday, January 14, formally launched Data Privacy Month, signalling Jamaica’s alignment with a global initiative observed each January to strengthen public awareness and improve how personal information is handled in an increasingly digital society.

“In a digital society, privacy is not a luxury— it is a requirement for safety, trust, and resilience,” said Minister Wheatley. “Data Privacy Month is about building a national culture where personal data is handled with care, respect, and accountability—because trust is the foundation of digital transformation.”

The minister noted that the global observance is anchored by Data Privacy Day on January 28, and emphasised that Jamaica is using the moment to drive practical readiness across citizens, organisations, and professionals, especially as emerging technologies intensify data risks.

“We have to modernise our privacy posture at the same pace we modernise our services, ” Minister Wheatley stated. “Artificial intelligence is increasing what can be inferred, profiled, and predicted from personal data, and our governance and safeguards must keep up.”

Minister Wheatley urged citizens to be more deliberate about how they share and manage their personal information online.

Turning to organisations across the public and private sectors, the minister underscored that privacy compliance is operational, not cosmetic.

“Data protection is not just a policy document on a shelf— it is governance, staff awareness, vendor controls, and incident preparedness,” Minister Wheatley added. “If you are collecting personal information, you have a duty to manage it responsibly and securely. Strong privacy practices reduce risk and strengthen confidence in the services you provide.”

Minister Wheatley commended the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) for leading the Data Privacy Month programme in furtherance of its public education mandate under the Data Protection Act, with targeted engagement across communities, youth, businesses, and privacy professionals.