Press releases | Privacy and data protection | Data protection standards

Press Release: GDPR: A new philosophy of respect

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is going in effect tomorrow, on 25 May 2018, strengthening and harmonising individuals rights in regards to personal data. A much celebrated success for all privacy advocates, GDPR is more than just a law.

By EDRi · May 24, 2018

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is going in effect tomorrow, on 25 May 2018, strengthening and harmonising individuals rights in regards to personal data. A much celebrated success for all privacy advocates, GDPR is more than just a law.

GDPR is a new philosophy that promotes a culture of trust and security and that enables an environment of Respect-by-Default

said Joe McNamee, Executive Director of European Digital Rights.

The Directive adopted in 1995 was characterised by a tendency towards bureaucratic compliance with little enforcement. The GDPR represents a recalibration of focus, establishing a new balance between companies, people and data. The framework does not only protect, but also changes, perceptions of personal data. On one hand, GDPR protects individuals from companies and governments abusing their personal data and promotes privacy as a standard. On the other, it gives businesses the chance to develop processes with privacy-by-default in mind, ensuring in this way both individuals’ trust and legal compliance . GDPR minimises the risk of some companies’ bad behaviour undermining trust in all actors.

The GDPR is capable of setting the highest regional standards for the protection of personal data; once well implemented, we need updated global rules

said Diego Naranjo, Senior Policy Advisor of European Digital Rights.

While not perfect, because no legislation is perfect, the GDPR is probably the best possible outcome in the current political context. We will now have to rely on each EU Member State’s Data Protection Authority (DPA) to do their jobs correctly and on governments to ensure enough resources have been allocated to allow this to happen.

To promote educational efforts around GDPR, we have developed an online resources that help everyone better understand their new rights and responsibilities, the “GDPR Explained” campaign which will be launched shortly.

Read more:

The four year battle for the protection of your data (24.05.2018)
https://edri.org/four-year-battle-protection-of-your-data-gdpr/

EU Data Protection Package – Lacking ambition but saving the basics (17.12.2015)
https://edri.org/eu-data-protection-package-lacking-ambition-but-saving-the-basics/

Twitter_tweet_and_follow_banner