The GDPR replaces the EU’s current data protection legal framework from 1995 (commonly known as the “Data Protection Directive”). This directive allowed member states to interpret the rules as they saw fit when they turned it into local legislation. The nature of GDPR as a regulation, and not a directive, means it applies directly without needing to be turned into law.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new set of rules designed to strengthen the basic privacy and data protection rights of European consumers also giving them more control over their personal data. It calls for a more granular privacy policy in an organization’s systems, more nuanced data protection agreements, and more consumer-friendly, detailed disclosures about an organization’s privacy and data protection practices. It aims to simplify the regulatory environment for business so both citizens and businesses can fully benefit from the digital economy. Unlike the Data Protection Directive, the GDPR is relevant to any globally operating company processing data activities with regard to EU individuals and not just those located in the EU.
Under the terms of GDPR, not only will organizations have to ensure that personal data is gathered legally and under strict conditions, but those who collect and manage it will be obliged to protect it from misuse and exploitation, as well as to respect the rights of data owners – or face penalties for not doing so.