Data Protection Standards & Compliance
GDPR & Global Data Protection Laws
Legal Framework
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets the global standard for data protection. Similar laws include CCPA (California), LGPD (Brazil), and PIPEDA (Canada).
Data Subject Rights
- Right to be informed: Clear privacy notices
- Right of access: Copy of personal data
- Right to rectification: Correct inaccurate data
- Right to erasure: "Right to be forgotten"
- Right to restrict processing: Limit data use
- Right to data portability: Move data between services
Controller Obligations
- Lawful basis: Legal justification for processing
- Data minimization: Collect only necessary data
- Purpose limitation: Use data for stated purposes only
- Storage limitation: Keep data only as long as needed
- Security measures: Protect data from breaches
- Accountability: Demonstrate compliance
Data Processing Principles
GDPR Article 5 - Processing Principles
Core Principles
- Lawfulness, fairness, transparency: Legal basis and clear communication
- Purpose limitation: Specific, explicit, legitimate purposes
- Data minimization: Adequate, relevant, limited to purpose
Quality & Security
- Accuracy: Accurate and up-to-date data
- Storage limitation: No longer than necessary
- Integrity & confidentiality: Appropriate security measures
Penalties
GDPR Fines:
- Tier 1: Up to €10M or 2% of global turnover
- Tier 2: Up to €20M or 4% of global turnover
- Breach notification: 72 hours to authorities
- Individual notification: When high risk to rights
Data Categories & Protection Levels
Personal Data
Any information relating to an identified or identifiable person:
- Name, email address, phone number
- IP addresses, device identifiers
- Location data, behavioral patterns
- Online identifiers (cookies, user IDs)
- Financial information, employment data
Special Category Data
Sensitive data requiring explicit consent or legal basis:
- Health and medical information
- Racial or ethnic origin
- Political opinions, religious beliefs
- Trade union membership
- Genetic and biometric data
- Sex life and sexual orientation
Privacy by Design Implementation
Technical and Organizational Measures
Encryption & Pseudonymization
- End-to-end encryption for sensitive data
- Database field-level encryption
- Pseudonymization of identifiers
- Secure key management systems
Access Controls & Monitoring
- Role-based access control (RBAC)
- Multi-factor authentication
- Audit logs and monitoring
- Regular access reviews
Policies & Procedures
- Privacy policies and procedures
- Data retention and deletion policies
- Incident response procedures
- Vendor management policies
Training & Governance
- Staff privacy training programs
- Data Protection Officer (DPO) appointment
- Privacy impact assessments
- Regular compliance audits
DPIA Requirements
Data Protection Impact Assessment required when:
- Systematic monitoring of public areas
- Large-scale processing of special categories
- Systematic and extensive evaluation
- Automated decision-making with legal effects
- Innovative technologies with high risk
International Data Transfers
Cross-Border Transfer Requirements
Transferring personal data outside the EU/EEA requires additional safeguards to ensure continued protection.
Adequacy Decisions
EU Commission has determined the third country ensures adequate level of protection.
Standard Contractual Clauses
Use EU-approved contractual clauses with additional transfer impact assessments.
Binding Corporate Rules
Internal data protection policies approved by EU data protection authorities.
Implementing Data Subject Rights
Response Timeframes
- Standard requests: 1 month (extendable to 3 months)
- Complex requests: 3 months with explanation
- Confirmation required: Within reasonable timeframe
- Free of charge: Unless manifestly unfounded or excessive
Implementation Requirements
- Request verification: Confirm identity of data subject
- Clear procedures: Document how to handle each right
- Data mapping: Know where personal data is stored
- Technical capabilities: Systems to extract, delete, or modify data
Data Protection Compliance Checklist
Legal Basis & Documentation
Technical & Procedural Safeguards
Ensure Data Protection Compliance
Report data protection violations and access resources for GDPR compliance.