eNews
Stop feeding the machine: Why Data Privacy Day 2026 is your wake-up call
MUMBAI: It is January 28, 2026. Today, the world observes Data Privacy Day. But let’s be honest: for the other 364 days of the year, we are usually too busy scrolling to care. We click “Accept All Cookies” to read an article. We trade our email addresses for 10% off a pair of sneakers. We spill our deepest thoughts to AI chatbots without wondering where that data goes.
The result? You are leaving a trail of “digital exhaust” that is being vacuumed up, packaged, and sold to the highest bidder.
Today is the day we hit the brakes. Privacy is no longer a luxury for the paranoid; it is a necessity for the free. Here is why this matters right now, and how you can fix it fast.
The New Threat: It’s not just hackers anymore
In the past, we worried about criminals stealing our credit card numbers. In 2026, the game has changed. The entity hungry for your data isn’t just a hoodie-wearing hacker in a basement—it’s the legitimate apps on your phone and the algorithms training on your behavior.
• The AI Mirror: Every prompt you type into a public AI model can theoretically become part of its brain. Your distinct writing style, your problems, and your ideas are the fuel.
• Biometric Overload: We pay with our faces and unlock doors with our fingerprints. If a password gets stolen, you change it. If your biometric data gets stolen, you can’t change your face.
• The “Free” Trap: If an app is free, you aren’t the customer; you are the product. Your location history, health stats, and spending habits are the inventory.
The 15-minute privacy sprint
You don’t need to go off the grid or move to a cabin in the woods. You just need to tighten the bolts. Here is your rapid-fire action plan for today:
1. Kill the zombies
We all have “zombie accounts”—old logins for fitness apps we used once in 2021 or shopping sites we forgot about. These are security holes waiting to happen.
The Fix: If you haven’t logged in for 12 months, delete the account. Not the app—the account.
2. Starve the chatbot
AI is useful, but it doesn’t need to know your secrets.
The Fix: Turn off “Chat History” in your AI settings where possible. Never enter financial details, legal documents, or medical info into a public Generative AI tool.
3. The “location” audit
Does your flashlight app need to know you are in a coffee shop? Does your calculator need your contact list? Absolutely not.
The Fix: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services (on iOS or Android). Change permissions from “Always Allow” to “While Using” or, even better, “Never” for non-essential apps.
4. Ditch the SMS two-factor
Hackers can swap SIM cards easier than they can crack passwords. Receiving your 2FA codes via text message is the weak link in 2026.
The Fix: Switch to an Authenticator App or use a physical security key (like a YubiKey). It takes five minutes to set up and multiplies your security by ten.
The bottom line
Data Privacy Day isn’t about fear; it’s about agency.
Your data is an extension of your physical self. It is your identity, your history, and your future. By taking control of it, you aren’t just securing a device; you are reclaiming your right to be a person, rather than a data point.
Don’t wait for next January. Make privacy a habit, starting now.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
