The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation enacted by the European Union (EU) to enhance data privacy and protect the personal data of individuals within the EU. It came into effect on May 25, 2018, and applies to organizations operating within the EU and those outside the EU that handle or target the data of EU citizens.
Key Principles of GDPR
Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency
Personal data must be processed lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner.Purpose Limitation
Data must be collected for specific, explicit, and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a way incompatible with those purposes.Data Minimization
Only the data necessary for the intended purpose should be collected.Accuracy
Personal data must be accurate and kept up to date.Storage Limitation
Data should be kept only as long as necessary for its intended purpose.Integrity and Confidentiality
Data must be processed securely to protect against unauthorized access, loss, or damage.
Rights of Individuals Under GDPR
Right to Access: Individuals can request access to their personal data.
Right to Rectification: Users can correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure (Right to Be Forgotten): Users can request their data be deleted under certain conditions.
Right to Data Portability: Individuals can request their data in a structured, commonly used format to transfer it elsewhere.
Right to Restrict Processing: Individuals can limit how their data is processed.
Right to Object: Users can object to certain types of data processing, such as marketing.
Rights Related to Automated Decision-Making and Profiling: Safeguards must be in place for decisions made solely through automated means.
Who Must Comply with GDPR?
GDPR applies to:
Organizations within the EU: All businesses and entities that handle personal data of EU residents.
Organizations outside the EU: Companies that process data of EU citizens, even if they are not based in the EU.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Non-compliance with GDPR can result in significant fines:
Up to €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue, whichever is higher, for severe breaches.
Lesser fines for less severe breaches, up to €10 million or 2% of global annual revenue.
How GDPR Protects Personal Data
GDPR safeguards personal data by requiring organizations to:
Obtain clear and explicit consent for data collection.
Use secure methods to process and store data.
Notify authorities and affected individuals in case of data breaches.
Regularly assess and audit data protection measures.
Why is GDPR Important?
GDPR is essential to:
Protect individuals' privacy rights.
Ensure transparency in how personal data is used.
Establish uniform data protection standards across the EU.
Promote trust between consumers and organizations.