Data Privacy (2026)

If you want to learn about Data Privacy, data protection, privacy laws, and how companies use personal information, I'd recommend following a mix of privacy experts, researchers, lawyers, and industry organizations.

Here are 10 excellent people and organizations to start with.

1. Privacy experts worth following

1. Daniel J. Solove

Best for beginners

• Privacy law, data protection, AI and digital rights.

• Excellent explanations of complicated privacy concepts.

• Follow: TeachPrivacy.

  Privacy and AI Insights with Professor Daniel SolovePrivacy + AI Newsletter by Daniel J. Solove

2. Ann Cavoukian

• Privacy by Design.
• Building privacy into products and systems.
• Great for understanding privacy principles.

3. Bruce Schneier

• Data security, surveillance and digital privacy.
• Excellent technology and security analysis.
• Follow: Schneier on Security.

4. Max Schrems

• GDPR and European privacy regulations.
• Big Tech accountability and data protection.
• Follow: NOYB.

5. Sandra Wachter

• AI ethics, algorithmic accountability and data protection.
• Particularly useful for understanding privacy in AI.

6. Katharine Jarmul

• Technical privacy, machine learning and differential privacy.

• Great for understanding privacy from a data science perspective.

• Follow: Probably Private newsletter.

  Probably Private

2. Organizations you should follow

These are especially useful for structured learning and staying updated.

7. IAPP

Must-follow

• Privacy certifications (CIPP, CIPM, CIPT).

• GDPR, CCPA, privacy governance and industry updates.

• Website: iapp.org.

  IAPP thought leadersPrivacy

8. Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

• Digital privacy, surveillance and civil liberties.
• Website: eff.org.

9. NOYB

• GDPR enforcement and privacy violations.
• Website: noyb.eu.

10. Privacy International

• Global privacy rights, surveillance and data exploitation.
• Website: privacyinternational.org.

3. What I recommend learning first

If you're starting from scratch, follow this learning sequence:

4. Let me narrow this down for you

Data Privacy is a broad field, and the best people to follow depend on your goal.

What is your primary reason for learning Data Privacy?

I can then recommend the best LinkedIn profiles, YouTube channels, newsletters, podcasts and experts to follow, rather than overwhelming you with hundreds of names.

To learn about Data Privacy, it helps to follow a mix of legal scholars, industry practitioners, researchers, and journalists who track the intersection of law, technology, and human rights.

The top experts, researchers, and platforms to follow depend on whether you are looking for legal frameworks, technical privacy, or daily news:

1. Legal Scholars & Thought Leaders (Policy, GDPR, & Regulations)

• Daniel Solove: One of the most prominent voices in data privacy law. He is a professor at George Washington University Law School and the founder of Teach Privacy. He breaks down complex legal concepts (like GDPR and CCPA) into highly digestible insights, especially on LinkedIn. Who are your go-to data privacy public figures online? - Reddit

• Luiza Jarovsky: A tech lawyer, CEO of Implement Privacy, and creator of the popular Privacy Notes newsletter. She is fantastic for practical guides, product compliance, and tracking AI privacy developments. Who are your go-to data privacy public figures online? - Reddit

• Jules Polonetsky: CEO of the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF). He bridges the gap between academic research, corporate compliance, and public policy. Following him or the FPF offers deep insights into global data governance.

• Ann Cavoukian: The former Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, Canada, and the creator of Privacy by Design - a globally recognized framework that embeds privacy into the design of IT systems.

2. Journalists & Investigative Reporters (Breaches, Surveillance, & Tech Abuse)

• Brian Krebs (Krebs on Security): While heavily focused on cybersecurity, his investigative reporting heavily overlaps with data breaches, corporate data mishandling, and the underground data broker economy.

• Andy Greenberg (WIRED): Covers security, privacy, hackers, and encryption. If you want to understand how encryption and state surveillance impact everyday privacy, his writing is essential.

3. Organizations & Research Centers to Follow

• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): The leading nonprofit digital civil liberties organization. Following them (and their staff) on social media or subscribing to their newsletter keeps you informed on digital rights, surveillance, and legal battles over data.

• Future of Privacy Forum (FPF): Mentioned above, their think tank publishes incredible reports on children's privacy, AI governance, health data, and mobility data.

• International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP): The largest global community for privacy professionals. Even if you aren't pursuing a certification like the CIPP, their daily news digest (IAPP Daily Dashboard) is the gold standard for tracking global privacy legislation and enforcement actions.

4. Practical Substack & Newsletter Recommendations

If you prefer curated newsletters sent straight to your inbox:

• Privacy Notes by Luiza Jarovsky: Great for industry trends, career advice in privacy, and AI regulations.

• TL;DR Sec (by Clint Gibler): While more security-focused, it frequently highlights application-level privacy, data leakage risks, and tooling. 19 Cyber Leaders to Follow on LinkedIn (and Why They Deserve

Suggested Next Step

Are you looking to learn data privacy from a legal/compliance perspective (e.g., GDPR/CCPA), a technical angle (e.g., encryption, zero-trust, anonymization), or for a specific career path? Let me know and I can tailor more specific resources!

To build a strong foundation in data privacy, it helps to follow a mix of investigative journalists, legal scholars, technical experts, and advocates who specialize in privacy rights, compliance, and cybercrime.

Industry Experts and Thought Leaders to Follow

** Brian Krebs** – Investigative journalist and publisher of Krebs on Security, famous for deep-dive reporting on data breaches, cybercrime, and privacy implications.

** Meredith Whittaker** – President of the Signal Foundation, an outspoken advocate for encrypted communication, surveillance tracking, and user data rights. Data Privacy Heroes: 8 Who Shaped Online Privacy

** Shira Rubinoff** – A recognized cybersecurity and privacy executive, keynote speaker, and influencer who focuses heavily on the human and psychological factors of keeping data secure.

** Graham Cluley** – Independent veteran security and privacy researcher, blogger, and podcaster who breaks down complex technical security/privacy news into digestible insights.

** Helen Nissenbaum** – Professor of Information Science at Cornell Tech, widely known for her foundational work on "contextual integrity" as a framework for data privacy. Data Privacy Heroes: 8 Who Shaped Online Privacy

Organizations and Resources

• IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals) – The largest global information privacy community. Following them or their publication Privacy Perspectives is essential for regulatory updates (GDPR, CCPA, etc.) and professional networking.

• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – A premier digital rights advocacy group that fights for civil liberties in the digital world, focusing heavily on surveillance, data tracking, and user privacy.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Are you looking to learn about data privacy from a legal/compliance angle or a technical/security perspective?
• Do you prefer learning via newsletters, podcasts, or social media?

I can tailor a more specific reading or following list for you.

Follow Debbie Reynolds (“The Data Diva”) for practical privacy insights; she hosts The Data Diva Talks Privacy and is a data privacy strategist. For a broader list of voices, see DataGrail’s 2025 Privacy Leader Watchlist.(identityreview.com)(datagrail.io)

Here’s a curated list of leading voices in Data Privacy you should follow in 2025 - covering practitioners, thought leaders, and innovators across law, technology, and governance:

🌍 Global Thought Leaders & Influencers

From the Thinkers360 Top 50 Privacy Influencers (2025):

• Debmalya Biswas (Wipro) – Ranked #1, focuses on enterprise privacy and compliance.

• Joshua Long (Intego) – Known for practical insights on consumer data protection.

• Prof. Bill Buchanan OBE (Edinburgh Napier University) – Academic leader in cybersecurity and privacy research.

• Muhammad Khurram Khan (Global Foundation for Cyber Studies and Research) – International expert on cyber privacy and policy.Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Privacy 2025 | Thinkers360

🏆 Recognized Privacy Heroes (2025)

From the Data Privacy Hero Awards:

• Anna Rogers (nCino) – Innovator in cookie governance and privacy-by-design frameworks.

• Randy Wood (Cricut) – Visionary aligning legal, IT, and security teams under unified privacy strategies.Announcing our 2025 Data Privacy Heroes | DataGrail

📊 Next-Gen Privacy Voices

Highlighted by Transcend :

• Idriss Kechida (Global DPO, OpenAI) – Leading AI-driven approaches to privacy management.

• Sonia Siddiqui (ex-Kohler, ex-Coinbase) – Advocates principle-based privacy programs across industries.

• Adam Trister (Chief Privacy Officer, Net) – Driving enterprise-wide privacy governance.Next-Gen Voices: Shaping Privacy & Governance in 2025 | Transcend | The only real-time data governance and decision layer

⚖️ Legal & Regulatory Experts

From Lexology’s Global Elite Thought Leaders:

• Steven De Schrijver (Belgium) – GDPR compliance and cross-border data transfer authority.

• Lisa R. Lifshitz (Canada) – Deep expertise in global privacy law and technology.

• Michael Isler & David Vasella (Switzerland) – Specialists in complex transactions and regulated environments.Data - Reports - Lexology Index - Lexology

📌 Emerging Industry Leaders

From DataGrail’s Privacy Leader Watchlist:

• Lauren Ervin (Compass) – Integrates privacy into organizational mission and vision.

• Heather Wood (Outreach) – Focused on AI governance, ethics, and technical privacy compliance.

• Dwight Turner (Trustology) – Security & privacy analyst with unique perspectives.The 2025 Privacy Leader Watchlist | DataGrail

✅ Tip : Most of these experts are active on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and industry blogs. Following them will give you a mix of policy updates, technical strategies, and forward-looking insights on how privacy is evolving with AI, regulation, and global compliance.

Would you like me to organize these into a “must-follow list” with direct LinkedIn/Twitter handles so you can start following them right away?