What Is GDPR And Should We Use It?

 Europe is now covered by the strongest data protection rules in the world. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) agreed upon by the European Parliament and the Council in April 2016 and entered into force on 25 May 2018. Designed to modernize legislation protecting individuals' personal information. Then What Is GDPR And Should We Use It?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the legal framework that establishes guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information from individuals living in the European Union (EU). The GDPR mandates that EU visitors be provided with a number of data disclosures. All sites must also take steps to facilitate such EU consumer rights as timely notification when personal data is breached. The EU's GDPR website says the law is designed to "harmonize" data privacy laws across Europe and provide individuals with greater protection and rights. Within the GDPR there are major changes for the public as well as for businesses and entities that handle personal information.

History of the GDPR

Before the GDPR came into force, previous data protection rules across Europe were first created in the 1990s and have struggled to keep pace with rapid technological change. The GDPR is changing the way businesses and public sector organizations can handle their customer information. It also enhances individual rights and gives them more control over their information.

Elizabeth Denham, the UK's information commissioner, in charge of data protection enforcement, said the GDPR brought big changes but had warned they would not change everything. "GDPR is a step change for data protection," he said. "It's still an evolution, not a revolution." For businesses already complying with pre-GDPR rules, the new should be a "step change," Denham said.

To Whom Does GDPR Apply

If you have a business operating with clients in the EU or outside, it is important that you respect the rules and make sure they comply with them. Pretty much every business has to comply with EU data laws, even if they are based in the US. This is because most companies have at least some data belonging to EU citizens stored on their servers. In order to process that data, organizations must comply with the GDPR principles.

Should We Use GDPR

Maybe you are wondering, do blogs or websites have to use GDPR. Because the GDPR was created to strengthen the rights of EU citizens regarding the collection and use of their personal data. A Data subject is any person who is a citizen, resident or simply visitor to the European Union. The regulations apply to data controllers (those who collect data from EU subjects) and data processors (those who process data on behalf of data collectors).

So, as you can see, this doesn't only affect EU-focused websites, it also applies to any website that can potentially serve EU customers or track behavioral data related to them. According to the text of the regulation, simply having a website accessible to EU data subjects does not make you subject to the GDPR. However, the intention to provide services to people there or track their behavior (for example, for advertising) is definitely carried out.

Core Principles of the GDPR

There are seven key principles to the GDPR that define how businesses must handle data to comply with the new European Union data protection standards:

1. Legitimacy, fairness and transparency – Data processing must be legal and information collected and used fairly. Users must not mislead about how their data is used

2. Destination boundaries – Processing objectives must be clear from the outset, recorded, and modified only with user consent

3. Data minimization- Only data which is necessary for stated processing purpose should be collected

4. Accuracy- Reasonable steps should be taken to ensure the data collected is accurate and up to date

5. Storage limitations – Data should not be stored longer than necessary

6. Integrity and confidentiality – Appropriate security measures must be taken to protect the personal data stored

7. Accountability – Organizations are accountable for how they handle data and comply with the GDPR

GDPR Data Subject Rights

One of the ways the GDPR empowers users is by granting them a new set of rights regarding their personal data. These rights are as follows:

* Right to Be Informed : The GDPR emphasizes transparency in data collection practices, meaning that individuals have the right to be fully informed about the collection and use of their personal data.

* Right of Access (Article 15): Individuals may request to view any personal data that has been collected from them. This information must be provided within one month and is free of charge.

* Right to Correct Information (Article 16): If the data collected about an individual is inaccurate, the individual has the right to request correction. The organization processing the data must respond within one month.

* Right to Erase / Right to be Forgotten (Article 17): Once information has been collected about them, individuals can request that it be permanently deleted, either because the information is no longer relevant, or because users choose to withdraw their consent.

* Right to Restrict Data Processing (Article 18): A person can ask to restrict how their data is processed when certain conditions apply, such as if the processing is unlawful or if the person has objected.

* Right to Data Portability (Article 20): When users request to view their data, it must be provided to them in a clear format so that it can be easily transferred to other organizations.

* Right to Object (Article 21): Individuals may object to the processing of their data in certain situations, such as direct marketing.

Companies that violate the EU General Data Protection Regulation face a maximum fine of €20 million ($23 million). The biggest penalty so far was issued in January 2019, when Google received a €50 million GDPR fine for not fully informing users how their data would be used when they set up their Android operating system.

So What Is GDPR? is a regulation designed to unify data protection laws across all European Union (EU) member states, giving users more rights and control over how their data is processed. With the GDPR leading the charge to regulate data flow, the future of privacy will be shaped by those who make data protection a priority today.

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