General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the European Union’s comprehensive privacy law that governs how organizations collect, use, and protect personal data of individuals within the EU.
What is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?
The GDPR, implemented in 2018, harmonizes data protection laws across EU member states and establishes strict rules for organizations that handle personal data. It applies to any entity—regardless of location—that processes data of EU residents.
The regulation grants individuals significant rights over their data, including access, correction, deletion, and portability. It also sets principles for lawful processing, accountability, and transparency, requiring organizations to protect personal data through technical and organizational measures.
The GDPR works alongside modern frameworks like the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) , forming the foundation for global privacy standards.
Why the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) matters
The GDPR reshaped global privacy practices by emphasizing individual rights, consent management, and organizational accountability. It serves as a model for other privacy laws worldwide, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and Brazil’s LGPD.
Compliance helps organizations mitigate risk, strengthen brand trust, and demonstrate ethical responsibility in data handling. Violations can result in fines up to €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover, making GDPR compliance a top business priority.
Beyond enforcement, the GDPR establishes a framework for transparency and fairness that guides responsible innovation and cross-border data management.
How the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is used in practice
- Obtaining valid consent before processing personal data
- Appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO) for compliance oversight
- Conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for high-risk processing
- Responding to Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) within one month
- Implementing data minimization and retention policies to limit unnecessary storage
- Reporting data breaches to supervisory authorities within 72 hours
Related laws & standards
- EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
- California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) – India
- ISO/IEC 27701 (Privacy Information Management)
How OneTrust helps with GDPR compliance
OneTrust helps organizations operationalize GDPR compliance by automating records of processing activities, managing consent, handling data subject rights, and monitoring cross-border data transfers. The platform supports scalable global privacy governance and audit readiness.
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FAQs about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The GDPR applies to any organization that processes personal data of individuals in the EU, regardless of where the organization is located.
The GDPR is built on seven principles: lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, and accountability.
The GDPR focuses on data protection and accountability, while the CPRA expands on consumer rights and data-sharing obligations. Both aim to empower individuals and ensure transparent data processing.
