The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a vital regulation for protecting personal data and privacy. Now since legal obligations are not what everyone can understand easily, there are some words or terms that are difficult to get. While understanding this regulation, you must have come across some complicated terms. In this blog, we’ll simplify and explain key GDPR terms in plain language, which will help you understand intricacies easily.
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What Is GDPR?
GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation. It is a set of regulations in the European Union (EU) to protect the privacy and personal data of individuals. GDPR establishes guidelines for how organizations should collect, process, store, and share personal information. It grants individuals greater control over their data and requires companies to obtain explicit consent for data processing. Non-compliance with GDPR can result in significant fines and penalties.
GDPR Terms Related To Individuals
Here are GDPR terms related to individuals explained in simple language:
- Natural Persons: Individuals who can be identified directly or indirectly through personal data. This term refers to people as opposed to legal entities like organizations or companies.
- Processor: An entity or person that processes personal data on behalf of the data controller. They must follow the instructions provided by the controller and take appropriate security measures to protect the data.
- Controller: The organization or person that determines the purposes and means of processing personal data. They are responsible for ensuring that personal data fulfills GDPR and protecting the rights of individuals.
- Recipient: An organization or person who receives or is intended to receive personal data. This can include internal departments, external service providers, or third parties.
- Third Party: Any organization or person other than the data subject, controller, processor, or persons authorized to process personal data. They do not directly involve in the processing but may receive or have access to personal data.
- Representative: A person or entity appointed by a non-EU organization that offers goods or services to individuals in the EU or monitors their behavior. The representative acts as a contact point for individuals and supervisory authorities in the EU.
- Enterprise: An organization, whether a legal entity or not, engaged in economic activities, regardless of its legal form. The GDPR applies to both public and private enterprises.
- Supervisory Authority: An independent public authority established by an EU member state responsible for monitoring the application of GDPR, providing guidance, and enforcing data protection laws.
- Supervisory Authority Concerned: In cases involving cross-border data processing, the supervisory authority concerned is the authority in the member state where the main establishment of a controller or processor is located.
GDPR Terms Related To Data
Here are GDPR terms related to data explained in simple language:
- Personal Data: Any information that can identify a person, like their name, address, email, or IP address.
- Sensitive Data: Personal data that is more private or sensitive, such as information about a person’s health, race, religion, sexual orientation, or political beliefs. Special protections apply to this type of data.
- Biometric Data: Unique physical or behavioral characteristics of a person, like fingerprints, facial recognition data, or DNA samples.
- Genetic Data: Information about a person’s inherited or acquired genetic characteristics, which can reveal details about their health or biological traits.
- Data Breach Notification: If a breach of personal data occurs and it poses a risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms, organizations must notify the relevant authorities and affected individuals without undue delay.
- Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA): It is a process to identify and minimize privacy risks associated with the processing of personal data. This helps organizations ensure compliance and protect individuals’ privacy.
- Data Subject Rights: Individuals have various rights regarding their data, including the right to access, rectify, restrict processing, object, erasure (right to be forgotten), and data portability. They can also withdraw consent and lodge complaints with supervisory authorities.
- Data Protection Officer (DPO): Some organizations are required to appoint a DPO, who acts as an independent advisor on data protection matters. Their role includes monitoring compliance, providing guidance, and acting as a point of contact for individuals and supervisory authorities.
GDPR Terms Related To Individual Rights
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) grants individuals several rights concerning the processing of their data. Here are some GDPR terms related to rights:
- Right to access: This gives the right individual to obtain information on personal data status.
- Right to rectification: Individuals have the right to request the correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
- Right to erasure (right to be forgotten): It is a right to request the deletion of their data under specific circumstances.
- Right to data portability: Individuals have the right to receive their data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and, if feasible, to transmit that data to another data controller.
- Right to object: This gives an individual the right to object to the processing of their data based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes. The data controller must stop processing the data unless there are compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override the individual’s interests, rights, and freedoms.
- Right not to be subject to automated decision-making: Individuals have the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing, including profiling, that significantly affects them. Exceptions apply in certain cases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the key GDPR terms is essential for ensuring compliance and protecting individuals’ rights in data processing. Hence, understanding these is crucial before going ahead with your organization’s compliance with GDPR. If you need further guidance or have specific questions regarding GDPR, it is advisable to seek help from legal experts or consult relevant resources provided by data protection authorities. Stay informed and proactive to navigate the GDPR landscape effectively.
If you are looking to implement any of the Infosec compliance frameworks such as SOC 2 compliance, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliance, Impanix can help. Book a Free consultation call with our experts or email us at [email protected] for inquiries.