Privacy Guidelines & Data Protection Standards
Privacy by Design Principles
Privacy must be built into systems from the ground up, not added as an afterthought.
Proactive not Reactive
Anticipate and prevent privacy invasions before they occur. Design systems to prevent privacy harms rather than detect and respond to them after the fact.
Privacy as the Default
Maximum privacy protection without requiring action from the individual. Privacy settings should protect users by default, not through opt-in mechanisms.
Privacy Embedded in Design
Privacy considerations are accommodated in all design decisions. Not a add-on feature, but a core component of the system architecture.
Full Functionality
All legitimate interests are accommodated without unnecessary trade-offs. Privacy protection doesn't come at the expense of functionality.
Data Minimization & Collection Standards
Collect Only What You Need
Data collection should be limited to what is directly relevant and necessary to accomplish the specified purpose.
Data Collection Principles
- Purpose Limitation: Collect data only for specified, explicit purposes
- Data Minimization: Limit collection to what's absolutely necessary
- Storage Limitation: Keep data only as long as necessary
- Accuracy: Ensure data is accurate and up-to-date
- Security: Protect data with appropriate technical measures
Legal Basis for Processing
GDPR Article 6 - Lawful Basis
- Consent: Clear, informed, specific agreement
- Contract: Necessary for contract performance
- Legal Obligation: Required by law
- Vital Interests: Protect life or physical safety
- Public Task: Carrying out public functions
- Legitimate Interest: Balancing test required
Consent Management Standards
Valid Consent Requirements
Under GDPR and similar regulations, consent must meet specific criteria:
Free & Informed
Users must have genuine choice without coercion. No pre-ticked boxes or bundled consent for different purposes.
Specific & Granular
Separate consent for different types of processing. Users can consent to some uses while rejecting others.
Withdrawable
Users must be able to withdraw consent as easily as they gave it. Provide clear mechanisms for consent withdrawal.
Cookie Consent
Essential vs Non-Essential:
- Essential: No consent required (security, user preferences)
- Analytics: Consent required
- Marketing: Explicit consent required
- Third-party: Clear disclosure needed
Cross-Border Data Transfers
International Data Transfers
Special protections apply when transferring personal data outside the user's jurisdiction (e.g., EU to US).
EU-US Data Privacy Framework
- Adequacy Decisions: EU Commission approved countries
- Standard Contractual Clauses: Legal safeguards for transfers
- Binding Corporate Rules: Internal company policies
- Certification Schemes: Industry-specific frameworks
Technical Safeguards
- Encryption in Transit: HTTPS/TLS for all transfers
- Encryption at Rest: Database and file encryption
- Pseudonymization: Remove direct identifiers
- Access Controls: Limit who can access data
Privacy Implementation Checklist
Essential Requirements
Advanced Protections
Take Action on Privacy Standards
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