The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection and privacy law that was adopted by the European Union (EU) in 2016. It replaces the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive and is designed to harmonize data protection laws across the EU, while also giving individuals greater control over their personal data.
The GDPR applies to all organizations that process the personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the organization is located. It establishes a number of principles and rights for individuals, including the right to be informed about how their personal data is being used, the right to access their personal data, the right to have their personal data erased, and more.
Under the GDPR, organizations must obtain explicit consent from individuals before collecting, using, or disclosing their personal data. They must also ensure that personal data is processed in a manner that is lawful, fair, and transparent. In addition, organizations are required to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
The GDPR imposes significant fines and penalties for non-compliance, and it has had a significant impact on the way that organizations around the world handle personal data. It has helped to raise awareness of data protection and privacy issues and has established a new standard for the handling of personal data.