Protection of Personal Data and Privacy

You probably share personal data every day. For example, when you shop online, you may be asked for your name, address, and bank details. When you’re on social media, you might share photos of yourself, your list of friends, or your location.

You might also be sharing data without realizing it. When you use the internet, cookies collect information like your location, IP address, and browser history.

Here are some other examples of times when your personal data may be collected.

It may not seem like much, but when you put all that information together, it can create a fairly comprehensive picture of who you are. This is what we call your digital identity. 

There are a few reasons why a business or other organization will collect your personal data.

When companies collect your data, they don’t necessarily have bad intentions. In fact, you probably find it very helpful when you’re looking for somewhere to eat and an app suggests a restaurant near you.

The problem is when one or more malicious individuals use your data. It all starts with data breaches. 

A data breach occurs when a cybersecurity flaw is exploited by someone with bad intentions. This flaw may be due to human error, a computer vulnerability, or some other cause.

Unfortunately, data breaches are commonplace. In Quebec alone, 514 privacy incidents were reported between April 2024 and March 2025 (Commission d’accès à l’information, 2024–2025)^[1]. Worldwide, more than 22 000 privacy incidents were officially reported in 2025, and it is estimated that the actual number of incidents is much higher (Verizon DBIR, 2025)^[2].

Social media^[3] and AI^[4] are not immune to this type of incident. 

For more information on the platforms involved, see the references at the bottom of this page.

Once your personal data is in the hands of malicious individuals, it opens the door to privacy violations, which in many cases can damage your reputation, your finances, and your mental health.

Privacy violations can take many forms. Here are some examples. 

“I’ve nothing to hide.” You’ve probably heard this phrase 100 times, and you may have even said it yourself. Personal data and online security may not seem like a big deal.

It can be hard to understand the risks. Why?

• Your data is digital, which can make it feel less real. 
• Often, the risks are long-term, so it can make you think it is unlikely that something bad will happen.
  • A data breach can happen months or even years after you’ve shared something.
  • A malicious person might act years after a data breach so their victim will let their guard down. 
  • Your personal data may be stored for a very long time, so if you don’t delete it, that old data may be a point of vulnerability for a long time.

The rise of influencers and content creators has made it increasingly common to share a lot of information online without worrying about what’s personal or not. It can be hard to resist the temptation to share things when acting on impulse feels so much more satisfying in the moment. Remember that the goal isn’t to stop sharing altogether, but learning to share differently.

In the next section, we’ll give you the tools you need to protect your data!

When what you share falls into the hands of the wrong people, everything can go wrong, and what started as something fun or convenient can get out of control.

First, assume that everything on the internet is forever and that everyone will be able to see it one day or another. That goes for AI, social media, your phone’s apps and the internet in general.

Your data belong to you: Protect them!

Remember that the goal isn’t to stop sharing things online, but to rethink the way you share.

We share tips to help you develop good online privacy habits.

Alloprof is committed to the privacy and security of all its users. In all its interactions with your data, Alloprof complies with Bill 25, a law that came into effect in 2022 to protect the privacy of Quebecers. 
To the extent possible, the data we collect on the site is anonymized and even encrypted when necessary.