General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

GDPR is built on seven core principles: lawfulness, fairness, and transparency; purpose limitation; data minimization; accuracy; storage limitation; integrity and confidentiality (security); and accountability. These principles guide how data should be collected and managed throughout its lifecycle and place strong obligations on data controllers and processors.

GDPR protects any personal data that can directly or indirectly identify an individual. This includes names, identification numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, location data, and even biometric or genetic data. Sensitive data such as racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation is subject to even stricter rules.

Yes, GDPR applies to any organization that processes the personal data of individuals located in the EU, regardless of where the organization itself is based. This means U.S. businesses, particularly those in e-commerce, SaaS, marketing, or cloud services, must comply with GDPR if they collect data from EU users. Failure to comply can result in heavy fines and reputational damage.