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GDPR

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a law regulating the processing of personal data within the European Union. Introduced in 2016 and applied since May 25, 2018, the GDPR aims to enhance the level of personal data protection and give individuals more control over how their data is used.

Purpose and Scope of the GDPR

The GDPR applies to any organization, public or private, that processes the personal data of residents of the European Union, regardless of whether the organization is based in the EU or outside of it. The regulation imposes obligations on businesses and organizations to adhere to principles of responsible collection, storage, and use of personal data.

Key Principles of the GDPR

  1. Transparency: Every data processing operation must be easy to understand and accessible to the individuals whose data is being processed.
  2. Purpose Limitation: Personal data can only be collected for specific, legal purposes and cannot be processed further in ways that are incompatible with those purposes.
  3. Data Minimization: Data processing should be limited to what is necessary for the purposes for which the data is processed.
  4. Accuracy: Personal data must be accurate and kept up to date.
  5. Storage Limitation: Personal data should be stored in a form that allows identification of individuals only for as long as necessary for processing purposes.
  6. Integrity and Confidentiality: Personal data should be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security.

Rights of Data Subjects

The GDPR introduces a range of rights for individuals to better control their personal data:

  1. Right of Access: Individuals have the right to obtain a copy of their personal data and information on how it is being processed.
  2. Right to Rectification: Allows individuals to request the correction of inaccurate or outdated personal data.
  3. Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Under certain conditions, individuals can request the deletion of their data.
  4. Right to Restrict Processing: Enables individuals to request the restriction of processing their personal data.
  5. Right to Data Portability: Allows for the transfer of personal data from one controller to another.
  6. Right to Object: Individuals can object to the processing of their personal data.

Obligations of Data Controllers

Data controllers must ensure compliance with GDPR principles, which includes the necessity of:

  • Maintaining records of processing activities,
  • Conducting data protection impact assessments for new processing projects,
  • Appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO),
  • Reporting personal data breaches to the relevant supervisory authorities.

Conclusions and Practical Application

The GDPR represents a comprehensive approach to personal data protection, raising standards and requirements in this area. It has introduced significant changes in how organizations must handle personal data, ensuring better protection of individual rights.

Summary

The GDPR is a fundamental tool that enhances transparency and imposes stricter requirements for personal data processing. Any organization operating within the European Union or processing the data of EU citizens must comply with the GDPR principles to ensure the privacy and protection of personal data.