Ever since the bulk of communication and correspondence has become automated, cases of breaches and identity thefts have become a commonplace phenomenon. It has cost the end users their credibility, investor loyalty, and reputation. Cybercrime is a reality which the governments around the world have decided to kerb through the implementation of regular laws. The European Union has taken one such step in the form of Data Protection Regulation, or the European Encryption Directive.
What is Data Protection Regulation, or the European Encryption Directive?
The European Union with its 25 states, members of European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland has passed strict Data Protection Regulation Law in their respective legislative bodies. This law will address the problem of breach of privacy. Under this law, any individual or organization that processes the personal data of EU citizens is bound to take prescribed safety measures.
The legislation covers vast aspects of personal data that need to be protected!
What Kind Of Personal Data Comes Under The Auspices Of Data Protection Regulation?
The legislation is very thorough about stipulating details of personal information as sensitive data. Here are some of them:
- Racial/ethnic origin
- Political opinions
- Religious/Philosophical beliefs
- Trade-union membership
- Data regarding health/Sex life
- Data subject to professional confidentiality
- Financial data
Legislators have covered almost every aspect of personal data. Such data can be one way or another, been used, processed or communicated through the internet and social media. The law covers every kind of data processing that concerns the EU citizens.
What Will Happen In The Case Of Non-compliance With This Law?
Member states of European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland have devised very stringent laws. Penalties for non-compliance with the Data Protection Regulation will cost the offender some hefty fines. Here are some:
- Fine up to £500,000 for the serious offenders.
- ICO will issue 25 Monetary Penalty Notices (MPNs) annually.
- Prison sentence for deliberate or negligent individuals or organizations dealing with the personal data of EU citizens.
- For UK organizations, the penalties are accordingly raised up.
These laws are legislated in order to prevent multiple kinds of cybercrimes. These can be an accidental destruction of data, alterations, deliberate disclosure or access to unauthorized persons, so on and so forth.
What Measures Should Be Taken To Protect The Personal Data Of EU Citizens?
EU has clear directives on the measures taken for making the personal data of their citizens’ safe. The best way of keeping the data safe is through encryption of data while processing and communicating it through the Internet. Encryption renders the data unintelligible to an unauthorized person and only makes sense to the data proprietor and his addressee and vice versa.
Encrypted email technology is also an effective weapon against breach of privacy and personal information.
Implementation of encryption is strongly advised to avoid legal action. If an individual or a company can show, in the case of any breach, that it had installed encryption technology in its system, the danger of legal action or amount of fine against such company or individual is greatly reduced.
Many businesses and companies are not still ready to implement these new safety measures due to the cost of its implementation, but considering new technology being used to swindle the end users, not just in EU but all over the world, it is highly recommended for the well-being of the masses.
[…] security measures are been taken nowadays worldwide in the face of threat posed by cyber criminals. European Union has passed the law for enforcing data encryption of all data about their citizens. So it is imperative for us to understand and carry out these […]