The best online resources for reading and learning about data privacy

If you grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, chances are high that you have a soft spot for LeVar Burton. Before the internet put the world at our fingertips, Burton and his PBS show Reading Rainbow exposed children in classrooms across the country to a variety of cultural viewpoints and life experiences they might not have encountered otherwise.

Each episode taught complex social, emotional, and educational concepts through a combination of literature and real-world examples. At the end of every show, Burton would introduce kid testimonials of topically similar books with his signature, “But you don’t have to take my word for it!”

Data privacy is complicated, partly because best practices and legislation are continually evolving. At Red Clover Advisors, we talk a lot about privacy, but we aren’t the only privacy experts out there. 

We’ve always got our eyes out for new and useful resources, so we recently put out a LinkedIn poll. We were wowed by the insight our colleagues shared—everyone weighed in with their privacy go-to’s, what works for them, and what the privacy world should be on the lookout for. 

So join us as we put on our LeVar Burton hat and share some of our favorite privacy resources from that poll. Check them out for yourself! After all, you don’t have to take our word for it.

The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)

The IAPP is the “largest and most comprehensive global information privacy community and resource.” The resource center on their website is probably the most reliable, up-to-date, and respected online library of privacy information. 

Are you just starting a data privacy program and need a “privacy for dummies” crash course? Want to track pending privacy legislation that might affect your company? Trying to understand your compliance obligations across jurisdictions? Looking for a privacy certification? 

No matter what you need, the IAPP has a plethora of tools and trackers that follow privacy developments on a global scale. 

Additionally, they also host regular web conferences and post interviews with privacy experts that will help you reduce risk and improve performance. Some of the information is free, some is member-only, but all of it is worth your time.

Our privacy team are certified IAPP Information Privacy Professionals because we respect their expertise and commitment to privacy best practices.

OneTrust DataGuidance

OneTrust is a giant in the privacy, security, and data governance space. As a privacy professional, you literally can’t throw a figurative rock without hitting OneTrust research, products, or certification. 

But they’re leaders for a reason.

The OneTrust blog and resource library are chock-full of free and very valuable information that can help you understand privacy laws and build agile and responsive compliance programs to scale.

The OneTrust DataGuidance platform has daily updates on region-specific regulations from lawyers and privacy experts around the world. It’s a great tool for tracking and interpreting compliance requirements for almost every privacy law out there.

We’re OneTrust Certified Privacy Management Professionals (OTCP) because their programs and products are on the cutting-edge of privacy best practices. We know their tools inside and out because we’ve worked with them for a long time—we’re one of OneTrust’s original partners. 

Privacy + Security Academy and PrivSec Global

If you prefer a combination of visual and auditory learning, the Privacy + Security Academy, founded by Daniel Solove and Paul Schwartz, hosts regular forums, conferences, and courses on a wide variety of topics for privacy and information security professionals, lawyers, and policymakers. And a bonus! Participation in these courses can fulfill CLE and CPE continuing education requirements. 

Like the Privacy + Security Academy but on a larger scale, PrivSec Global is hosts two-day livestream and on-demand events around the world and throughout the year. These events allow you to learn from privacy experts in your region and your industry. And it’s free. With real-world case studies and practical information you can implement right away, this conference is a great way to brush up on data privacy best practices and trends. (And did we mention that it’s free?!)

Social media and online communities

One answer that surprised us in our LinkedIn poll? Privacy professionals look to social platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, and Slack for privacy insight.

At Red Clover, we’re regulars on LinkedIn and share a steady stream of news, thoughts, resources, and more. 

And there’s more of us privacy obsessives out there, too! Just take a peek at Node Zero, an online community for building datasets and tools for privacy pros, and the Data Privacy Legislation Grid, founded by Jeff Jockisch—you’ll the collaborative energy of privacy professionals hard at work.

Data privacy is a big beast, and it’s impossible to learn everything you need to know all at once. Like every other complex topic, time and consistent effort are critical to gaining mastery of the subject. Following fellow privacy experts on social media will give you a steady stream of knowledge that can help you:

  • Stay on top of privacy trends
  • Troubleshoot problems
  • Find mentors or provide mentoring
  • Discover new sources for research, articles, and opinions
  • Contribute to the development of standards for privacy best practices

Red Clover Advisors

Not to toot our own horn, but the RCA blog is pretty great. Because our posts encompass both broad topics and nitty-gritty details, most of the articles have valuable information that will help you no matter where you are on your privacy journey.

We also have an entire page of downloadable resources that cover everything from individual laws like the GDPR and CPRA to cookie consent management to privacy-friendly digital marketing.

Each week on our She Said Privacy, He Said Security podcast, hosted by our CEO Jodi Daniels and her husband/cybersecurity expert Justin, we dive into a new way of working with data—going beyond compliance to discuss privacy-friendly strategies that build trust with customers.

Friends to know, and ways to grow, it’s a (privacy) reading rainbow

Hopefully, this resource roundup will help you develop and manage an effective privacy strategy and an efficient compliance program. 

If you still have questions or need specific guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation. We have the knowledge, experience, and passion for privacy you need to get the job done right. And with a variety of packages and services that fit almost every budget, RCA can help your privacy program soar.

You don’t have to take our word for it, but we’d love it if you did.

To quote the great LeVar Burton one more time, “We’ll see you next time!”