Definition
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a data protection law that operates within the European Union and European Economic Area. It seeks to improve online privacy by giving users more control over their data and improving data collection transparency.
Real-life Examples of GDPR Usage
- Privacy policy: Websites must adhere to GDPR data usage guidelines in their privacy policy.
- Cookie policy: GDPR prohibits collecting and storing cookies without the user’s permission.
- Third-party site: Websites outside the EU must adhere to GDPR requirements or block EU visitors’ traffic.
GDPR Key Principles
- Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency: Lawfulness dictates that data collection and processing be within legal stipulations. Fairness means that data collection and processing are in the best interest of the data owner. Transparency requires clear communication of what, how, and why you collect and process personal information.
- Limitation of purpose: Data must be processed for the intended purpose only.
- Data minimization: It provides that data that is no longer needed should not be stored; hence, only the exact needed data is collected.
- Accuracy: It demands the accuracy of data being processed.
- Storage limitations: This involves data disposal practices when data is no longer needed.
- Integrity and confidentiality: Integrity relates to ensuring that private data is accurate and cannot be exploited, while confidentiality ensures that personal data is only accessible to parties processing it.
- Accountability: This entails assuming responsibility for data processing activities.