In 2026, Privacy Stops Being a Checkbox and Starts Looking Like Identity Protection

As Data Privacy Week approaches, security leaders are confronting a reality that feels markedly different from even a few years ago. The conversation is no longer about simply meeting regulatory requirements or keeping databases locked down. It is about protecting individual identity itself in an era where personal data is inseparable from health, finances, work, and daily life.

That shift is being accelerated by generative AI. As organizations race to deploy AI-powered tools, they are also discovering how fragile their data boundaries can be. Industry surveys suggest that three quarters of organizations experienced some form of AI-related security incident in 2025, underscoring how quickly new technologies can magnify old weaknesses.

According to Dana Simberkoff, Chief Risk, Privacy, and Information Security Officer at AvePoint, the stakes in 2026 are fundamentally about people, not policies. Personal information, she argues, has become inseparable from an individual’s being and well-being, turning privacy into a core organizational responsibility rather than a legal obligation.

“Building on the shared responsibility mindset that’s been widely highlighted for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Data Privacy Week draws attention to individual data ownership and designing privacy into the way we work and the systems we rely on. Personal data ownership and agency is critical both in and outside of the workplace, which is data directly tied to an identity of an individual (whether it be surrounding their being, health, finances, or person). From the CEO down to every single employee in the company, organizations must make sure that they prioritize data protection, privacy and security by design (and by default) – leading with privacy awareness when building their security practices.

This ensures a sustainable future, and one that respects rights of individuals as well as protects the greater good. In practice, this means designing privacy into all workflows across the organization by default, directly into daily systems and teams so that protecting information becomes a shared responsibility rather than an afterthought. Organizations should treat employees’ personal data with the same care as their own, ensuring it is never used or collected without explicit permission.

However, there is no such thing as privacy without a strong data and AI governance foundation. Security teams must become privacy-aware and proactive, by using AI defensively to predict breaches before they occur rather than just reacting to them.”

This perspective reflects a broader trend emerging across security teams. Privacy is increasingly viewed as infrastructure, something that must be built directly into workflows, systems, and culture. Instead of bolting controls on after a product ships or a breach occurs, organizations are being pushed to design for privacy by default.

AI complicates that mandate. Models trained on vast datasets can quietly ingest sensitive information, replicate bias, or expose personal details in unexpected ways. Without strong governance, AI becomes both a productivity accelerator and a privacy liability. That is why many security leaders are now exploring the use of AI defensively, applying it to monitor data flows, detect misconfigurations, and surface risks before they escalate into breaches.

The deeper implication for 2026 is that privacy is becoming a trust signal. Customers, employees, and partners increasingly judge organizations by how responsibly they handle personal data, not just whether they comply with regulations. Companies that treat identity protection as a foundational principle may find themselves better positioned for the next decade, while those that continue to treat privacy as paperwork risk falling behind.

As Data Privacy Week arrives, the message for security teams is clear. Safeguarding data now means safeguarding people. And in a world shaped by AI, that responsibility starts long before an incident ever occurs.