Data Privacy

The protection of personal information and the right of individuals to control how their data is collected, used, shared, and stored. Data privacy encompasses legal frameworks, technical safeguards, organizational practices, and ethical considerations around personal information. It addresses questions like what data can be collected, for what purposes, with what consent, how it should be secured, who can access it, how long it's kept, and when it must be deleted. Data privacy differs from data security (which focuses on protecting data from unauthorized access) though the two are closely related. Modern privacy frameworks like GDPR establish principles including transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, security, and accountability. Data privacy matters because personal information affects individuals' autonomy, dignity, reputation, and opportunities. Organizations that respect data privacy build trust, avoid regulatory penalties, and demonstrate ethical operations.