Global Data Protection Laws You Should Pay Attention To

Global Data Protection Laws You Should Pay Attention To

Data protection has never been as important as it is right now. With several multinational companies having been victims of data hacks, there is a need for governments to protect their citizens. The abundance of hacking cases is becoming worrying and questions concerning the safety of online user’s data are being raised. Are there global data protection laws to protect you?

Why are global data privacy laws necessary?

Your personal data is extremely delicate and in the wrong hands, it can be used as a tool of control against you. We are living in a cybersecurity era and almost all transactions take place online. Any data breach, no matter how minute, can leave you susceptible to blackmail or reputation ruin.

This is why you should always use a VPN when browsing online. There are several VPNs that are effective when it comes to data protection like F-Secure Freedome which you can use to protect your data against cybercriminals.

Data protection laws are there to ensure the data you submit online is safe and is used appropriately.

What is the Global Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)?

The rise in data breaches brought about the need for the enforcement of data protection laws. The GDPR is a global set of data laws that began in March 2018 and were mutually agreed on by European nations. Prior to that, the laws available were decades old and were not designed for the cybersecurity era.

It took around 4 years for the negotiations to finalize and even though the GDPR came with newer rules, it mostly builds upon past data privacy laws.

Key Principles of the GDPR

Personal data is the foundation of the GDPR and there are 6 governing principles;

  1. Data minimization: You are not allowed to collect more data than is necessary. The data collected should only be sufficient to accomplish the intended purpose.
  2. Integrity and confidentiality: All data should be kept safe and secure and protected from unauthorized access, damage or loss.
  3. Transparency and lawfulness: The data collected should be handled in a transparent manner and processed lawfully.
  4. Storage limitation: Data collected that is no longer in use should be deleted. This is especially important since timescales are rarely set.
  5. Accuracy: Erroneous data should be rectified and deleted and individuals are at liberty to request that all erroneous data regarding them be deleted.
  6.  Purpose limitation: Your personal data can only be collected for a legitimate purpose which must also be clearly stated. The collection of data should cease once the purpose has been accomplished.

Protect your personal data using VPN

A simple data breach could cause you your reputation or even result in identity theft, leaving you in massive debt. Even though the data protection laws protect you, there is no telling when you’ll be a victim of a data breach. This is why you should also protect your data by using available VPNs.

Current VPN vendors offer multiple solutions and you can even find small-scale choices like Express VPN extension to be sufficient for basic needs. A VPN will help you maintain online anonymity and enhance data security.