Carnegie Mellon University will observe Data Privacy Day, Jan. 28, with a panel discussion about the ways that mobile phones and social networks make it harder for people to maintain their privacy.

"It has been suggested that smartphones should no longer be referred to as 'phones,' but as 'trackers,' given the amount of information they collect about their users," said Norman Sadeh, professor of computer science and co-director of the university's new master's program in privacy engineering. Yet most people have little awareness of what information is being collected about them, via either smartphones or social media, or of how that information is used.

Sadeh will moderate the panel discussion, "Will the Mobile Web and Social Networking Mark the End of Privacy?" from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Jan. 28 in Newell-Simon Hall 3305. The panel includes Alessandro Acquisti, associate professor of information technology and public policy; Lorrie Cranor, associate professor of computer science, engineering and public policy and co-director of the privacy engineering masters program; Jason Hong, associate professor of human-computer interaction; and Travis Breaux, assistant professor of computer science.

Following the discussion, the university's research and educational activities regarding privacy will be showcased at a poster fair in the Newell-Simon Hall atrium.

Data Privacy Day is an international event observed in 28 countries to raise awareness of privacy issues. It is led by the National Cyber Security Alliance and its Stay Safe Online initiative