Oh, I did not understand you meant that ALL data professionals would take the oath. Yes, I see how everyone taking the oath could make a difference.

My instinct is that systematic positive and negative incentives work best. But when I think of people I have known who are medical doctors, they take very seriously their oath -- even when it would seem to work against their own or their company's financial interest. This proves your point about the value of an oath in improving data security and privacy.

I wonder if any organizations have suggested an oath? I believe the DPMA has one, but I don't think that it specifically addresses data security and privacy.