In 2026, protecting sensitive data is no longer a simple task, especially amidst the threat of AI agents going rogue. With 98% of enterprises expected to adopt AI agents in the next twelve months, their business value is undisputed – but risk could just as easily cancel out reward. Worryingly, 80% of enterprises have already reported that their AI agents have taken unauthorised actions, including accessing and sharing sensitive data.

Enterprises can’t hope to safeguard company data without managing their AI agents, which require the same level of oversight and access governance as human users. This Data Privacy Day, the question is no longer just about “who” can access what. It’s about “what” is acting inside your environment, “how” it’s doing so, and “why.” Organisations can take back control by deploying tools that monitor every AI agent’s access to sensitive data, assign clear ownership, and enforce approval workflows before granting or expanding access.

No longer can this AI be seen as a novelty – it must be treated as a core operational identity within digital ecosystems. Organisations who fail to implement oversight now are exposing themselves, and their data, to significant risk.