Data Privacy & GDPR

In today’s digital age, personal data is collected, processed, and stored by organizations in vast quantities. From online shopping and social media usage to online banking and fitness tracking, our personal information is being collected and analyzed by organizations in ways that were previously impossible.

While this data can be used to provide us with personalized experiences and make our lives easier, it also presents significant privacy risks. With so much information being collected and stored, it’s increasingly important to protect our personal data and ensure that it’s being used responsibly.

Why is Data Privacy Important?

Protecting our personal information: Personal data can be sensitive and private, and if it falls into the wrong hands, it can be used for malicious purposes such as identity theft, fraud, and cyberbullying.

Maintaining control over our data: By protecting our personal data, we can ensure that it’s only being used for the purposes for which we’ve given permission.

Preserving our personal dignity and freedom: Data privacy helps to prevent the misuse of our personal information and protects our dignity and freedom.

Building trust in organizations: When organizations protect our personal data, they demonstrate their commitment to responsible data handling, which helps to build trust with their customers.

Why is Data Privacy a Need?

The increasing amount of personal data being collected: With the increasing amount of personal data being collected, it’s more important than ever to ensure that it’s being used responsibly and protected from unauthorized access.

The growing number of data breaches: Data breaches are becoming more common, and it’s important to have measures in place to protect our personal data in the event of a breach.

The increasing use of personal data for commercial purposes: Organizations are increasingly using personal data for commercial purposes, such as targeted advertising and personalized experiences. This highlights the need for data privacy laws to ensure that our personal data is only being used for the purposes for which we’ve given permission.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation by the European Union (EU) that went into effect on May 25th, 2018. The regulation aims to protect the privacy and personal data of EU citizens, giving them more control over their information and how it’s collected, processed, and stored by organizations.

The GDPR sets out seven key principles for data protection:

• Transparency: Organizations must be clear and transparent about how they collect, process, and store personal data.
• Purpose limitation: Organizations must collect personal data for specific, explicitly defined purposes, and not use it for any other purposes.
• Data minimization: Organizations must collect only the personal data that is necessary for the specific purpose for which it was collected.
• Accuracy: Organizations must take steps to ensure that the personal data they collect is accurate and up-to-date.
• Storage limitation: Organizations must not store personal data for longer than is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
• Integrity and confidentiality: Organizations must take appropriate measures to ensure the confidentiality and security of personal data.
• Responsibility: Organizations must be accountable for complying with the GDPR and be able to demonstrate their compliance.

• Data protection by design and default: Organizations are required to implement technical and organizational measures to protect personal data from unauthorized access, misuse, or theft.
• Data breach notification: In the event of a data breach, organizations must notify the relevant authorities and affected individuals within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach.
• Right to be forgotten: Individuals have the right to request the deletion of their personal data if it’s no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
• Data protection officers (DPO): Organizations must appoint a DPO if they are a public authority or if they process large amounts of sensitive personal data.

Why is the GDPR important?

The GDPR is important because it provides individuals with greater control over their personal data, which is increasingly being collected, processed, and stored by organizations. The regulation also helps to create a level playing field for organizations, by setting standards for data protection that are consistent across the EU.

Who does the GDPR apply to?

The GDPR applies to organizations that process personal data of EU citizens, regardless of whether the organization is located inside or outside the EU.

What are the consequences of non-compliance?

Organizations that fail to comply with the GDPR can be fined up to 4% of their annual global revenue or €20 million (whichever is greater). In addition to fines, non-compliance with the GDPR can also result in reputational damage, loss of trust from customers, and legal action.