GDPR Full Form and Key Principles

GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation. It is a regulation regarding information privacy in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). To know about GDPR, its key principles and how to comply with GDPR regulation, read this blog post. 

What is the full form of GDPR?

GDPR full form is General Data Protection Regulation. It is a data protection law that came into effect in 2018. Since it’s a regulation and not just a guideline or directive, it automatically applies in every EU country without needing to be turned into separate national laws. Still, EU countries do have some flexibility to adjust certa in parts of it to fit their own legal systems.

GDPR, at its core, is all about protecting people’s personal data and privacy. It is rooted in broader EU human rights law, specifically Article 8(1) of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. It also controls how personal data can be transferred outside the EU and EEA. 

The main idea behind GDPR is to give people more control over their personal information, while also making it easier for businesses to deal with one consistent set of rules across Europe. It replaced an older directive from 1995, known as Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC, and made the language and rules much clearer for individuals to understand.

Key Principles of GDPR

Here are the main principles GDPR is built around:-

• Be lawful, fair and transparent:- Be honest about how and why you’re collecting data.

• Only use data for a specific purpose:- Stick to the reason you collected it in the first place.

• Only collect what you really need:- Don’t grab more data than necessary.

• Keep it accurate:- Make sure personal data is correct and up to date.

• Don’t keep it forever:- Get rid of it when you don’t need it anymore.

• Keep it safe and secure:- Protect it from leaks, hacks or misuse.

• Be accountable:- Be able to show that you’re following all the rules.

Who Does GDPR Apply To?

GDPR applies to anyone including individuals, companies or organisations that collect or handle personal data in the EU. Personal data just means anything that can identify a living person, like names, email addresses, ID numbers and even location data.

Even if your business isn’t based in the EU, you still have to follow GDPR in the following scenarios:

• You sell goods or services to people in the EU

• You’re processing data about someone living in the EU

In the above-mentioned scenarios, your country is regarded as a "third country" under GDPR and you’re expected to meet the same standards.

How to Comply with GDPR?

If you want to be GDPR-compliant, the first step is understanding the rights it gives to people. These include the following rights:-

• The right to know how their data is being used

• The right to access their personal data

• The right to fix mistakes in their data

• The right to have their data deleted

• The right to limit how their data is used

• The right to take their data elsewhere (called data portability)

• The right to say no to data being used

• Rights around decisions made automatically (like decisions made by AI or algorithms)

You also need to figure out your role:

• Data controllers decide why and how personal data is used

• Data processors handle the data on behalf of the controller

Even though controllers are mainly responsible for making sure everything’s compliant, processors also have certain legal obligations they must adhere to. If you’re working with outside partners or vendors who process data for you, there needs to be a clear written agreement that they’ll follow your data policies and everyone involved needs to stick to it.

What Happens In Case of Non-Compliance with GDPR?

The GDPR regulation is something businesses cannot afford to ignore. It is a law, and there are actual people making sure this law is followed. Each country that is a part of the EU has its own Data Protection Authority (DPA) that’s in charge of enforcing the rules. These watchdogs have the power to look into complaints, audit companies and dig into anything that seems suspicious.

If a company messes up and it affects people in more than one country, the DPA where that company is based takes the lead. They’ll still work with the other countries involved, but one authority takes charge to keep things organized.

Now, if you are wondering what happens if a company doesn’t follow rules? In this case, the DPAs can issue fines and take necessary actions. They can also force businesses to stop processing data, fix their mistakes or honor people’s requests (like deleting or correcting their personal info). So it’s not just about money. It’s also about being held accountable in real and practical ways.

There’s also a group called the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) that helps all these DPAs stay in sync and makes sure the rules are applied consistently no matter where you are in the EU. If a company violates data protection laws, they can be fined. 

For minor violations, like collecting data from children without permission, companies can be fined up to €10 million or 2% of their global revenue from the previous year, whichever is higher. But for the bigger violations, like using someone’s data for something completely illegal, it can go up to €20 million or 4% of global revenue. Again, whichever is more. 

Conclusion

GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation. It came into force in 2018. It applies to every country that is a part of the European Union. GDPR provides individuals with more control over their personal data. At the same time, it makes it simpler for business entities to deal with one consistent legislation across the European Union. It superseded an earlier 1995 law and made the regulations and language considerably easier for people to understand.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What does GDPR stand for?

A. GDPR full form is General Data Protection Regulation.

Q2. When was GDPR introduced?

A. It was introduced on 25 May, 2018.

Q3. In 2018, which regulations did GDPR replace?

A. In 2018, the GDPR replaced the 1995 Data Protection Directive. 

Q4. Does GDPR regulation apply to every EU country?

A. Yes, GDPR applies to all 27 member countries of the European Union (EU). Moreover, this regulation also extends to the European Economic Area (EEA) consisting of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. 

Author: Kashish Kumar

Ms. Kashish Kumar holds a BA (Hons.) in Philosophy from the University of Delhi, where she specialized in Philosophy of Law, and an MA in Philosophy from the same institution. She has a background in legal studies and continues to build on her expertise in the field. With over five years of experience in content creation, Kashish has worked as a ghostwriter and contributed to non-profit organizations in the U.S. and U.K. Growing up in a family with a strong legal background, she developed a natural passion for content related to legal topics. In addition to her professional work, she has been involved in social initiatives through organizations like PETA, CRY, and WWF. Kashish is an avid reader, with a particular love for books and blog posts. Her favorite series is The Lincoln Lawyer.