Data-Protection
Data-Protection refers to the measures and practices used to safeguard data from unauthorized access, corruption, or loss. Here's a comprehensive overview:
History
- 1960s: With the advent of computers, the need for data protection became evident. Early systems were mostly manual, but the concept of securing information began to take shape.
- 1970: The Fair Information Practices were outlined in the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare's report, setting the foundation for modern data protection principles.
- 1980s: The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued guidelines on the protection of privacy and transborder flows of personal data.
- 1995: The European Union introduced the Data Protection Directive, which aimed to harmonize data protection laws across member states.
- 2016: The EU adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect in May 2018, significantly updating and strengthening data protection laws within the EU.
Context
Data protection is crucial in an era where data breaches, identity theft, and cyber-attacks are increasingly common. It encompasses:
- Privacy: Ensuring individuals' personal information is handled in accordance with their rights.
- Security: Implementing technical measures like encryption, firewalls, and secure data storage.
- Compliance: Adhering to laws and regulations that dictate how data should be protected.
- Accountability: Organizations must demonstrate that they are taking appropriate measures to protect data.
Key Principles
- Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency: Data must be processed lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner.
- Purpose Limitation: Data should be collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes.
- Data Minimization: Only data necessary for the purposes for which they are processed should be collected.
- Accuracy: Personal data must be accurate and kept up to date.
- Storage Limitation: Data should not be kept longer than necessary.
- Integrity and Confidentiality: Data must be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security.
- Accountability: The controller is responsible for, and must be able to demonstrate, compliance with these principles.
External Resources
- GDPR-Info - Provides detailed information on GDPR.
- FTC Privacy and Security - Offers guidance on privacy and security from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
- IAPP - International Association of Privacy Professionals, offering resources and certifications in data protection.
- OECD Privacy Guidelines - The OECD's guidelines on data protection.
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