What is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive privacy regulation that was adopted by the European Union (EU) in 2016 and came into effect on May 25, 2018. It replaces the 1995 Data Protection Directive and strengthens the protection of personal data in the EU.
The GDPR regulates the collection, use, storage, and transfer of personal data of EU residents by any organization, whether located within the EU or outside of it, that processes the data of EU residents. It gives individuals greater control over their personal data and provides them with certain rights, such as the right to access their data, the right to have their data corrected or deleted, and the right to object to certain types of processing.
The regulation imposes strict requirements on companies and organizations that process personal data, including the requirement to obtain explicit consent for processing personal data, the obligation to implement appropriate security measures to protect personal data, and the requirement to report data breaches to authorities within 72 hours. Non-compliance with GDPR can result in significant fines and reputational damage for organizations.
Requirements of General Data Protection Regulation
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out a number of requirements that organizations must comply with when processing personal data of individuals who are located in the European Union. Some of the key requirements include:
Lawful basis for processing: Organizations must have a lawful basis for processing personal data. This could be consent from the data subject, a legitimate interest, or a contractual obligation.
Transparency: Organizations must provide individuals with clear and understandable information about how their personal data will be processed, including the purposes of processing, the categories of data being processed, and any third parties who may have access to the data.
Data minimization: Organizations must only collect and process personal data that is necessary for the purposes for which it is being processed.
Security: Organizations must implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure the security of personal data, including measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or destruction.
Data subject rights: Individuals have a number of rights under GDPR, including the right to access their personal data, the right to have their data corrected or deleted, and the right to object to certain types of processing.
Data breach notification: Organizations must notify individuals and the relevant supervisory authority of a data breach within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach.
International data transfers: Organizations must ensure that personal data is transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA) in compliance with GDPR requirements, such as through the use of Standard Contractual Clauses.
These are some of the key requirements of GDPR, and organizations must ensure that they comply with all applicable provisions of the regulation when processing personal data. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and reputational damage for organizations.
