Some risks we cannot do anything about, some we choose not to do anything about, and others prompt us to take action. According to Emma Martins, Data Protection Commissioner at the Office of the Data Protection Authority in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, it is much easier to respond to risks when we are clear about what they are. When the harms are less visible, or hard to imagine, we tend not to be very good at ‘risk engagement’. One such area is data, which is often thought be an ephemeral concept, but she says we could not be more wrong. The risks are very real and - for example in relation to data protection and privacy - and could potentially be significant. She explains why it is essential to be laser focused on harm prevention when it comes to data and the risks faced.