GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

Security & Compliance beginner

GDPR is the EU regulation governing the collection, processing, and storage of personal data of EU residents.

Summary

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the EU regulation that sets out rights for individuals over their personal data and obligations for organizations that collect or process that data, with significant penalties for non-compliance.

What is GDPR?

The GDPR came into effect in May 2018 and applies to any organization that processes personal data of EU residents, regardless of where the organization is based. It replaced the 1995 Data Protection Directive and introduced substantially stronger rights for data subjects and higher obligations for data controllers and processors.

Core principles include data minimization, purpose limitation, storage limitation, and accountability. Organizations must have a lawful basis for processing personal data, such as consent, contract, or legitimate interest. Data breaches must be reported to supervisory authorities within 72 hours.

Technical requirements under GDPR include implementing appropriate security measures, maintaining records of processing activities, and in many cases appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO). Privacy by design and by default are explicit requirements.

Why is GDPR relevant?

  • Global reach: Applies to any organization processing EU residents' data, not just EU-based companies
  • High penalties: Fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher
  • Individual rights: Data subjects have rights to access, rectification, erasure, and portability of their data
  • Security obligations: Organizations must implement technical and organizational measures to protect personal data

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