Data laws and regulations are a hot topic within the world of data collection and analysis. Data protection rules, such as the General Data Protection Regulation, have been developed around the world as a result of rapid digitisation and concerns about data privacy (GDPR). Designed to update legislation protecting people’s personal information, these laws impact how organisations handle information on their customers.
Data privacy is more important than ever in the digital age. People have been storing their private information and papers for decades in office cabinets and bank vaults. However, as more data moves to the cloud, both data owners and holders are more concerned about data privacy. High-profile data breaches and misuses can lead to serious damage, both to the customers whose data is leaked and the organisations in charge of the data.
For professionals who work with data, it’s becoming increasingly important to understand data laws. A data policy course will help business leaders, data analysts, IT technicians and legal professionals improve their understanding of this complex topic. Specifically, you’ll be able to learn more about the data protection concerns driving new internet and technological regulations.
Why Are Data Laws Important?
Data privacy is the confidentiality of information, whether personal or not, that is available to the public or to businesses. Information can mean a lot of different things in this context, and modern online platforms collect an alarming amount of data on the people that use them.
Social media, in particular, regularly collects information on the location, name, age and personal preferences of each user. This data can be incredibly useful to companies that are looking to advertise to key demographics. This is a result of the phrase “data is the new oil”. Data can be very valuable, as it allows marketers to target a specific audience.
However, not all online users want to have their personal information in the public domain. People have a right to privacy, and while they might be ok with sharing some information, they often prefer this sharing to be limited. The reason being is that data in the wrong hands can be used against a person, with phishing attacks and other attempts at fraud possible when using a person’s private information.
Data laws help prevent the misuse of data, ensuring that customers’ personal information is protected. It also helps companies avoid embarrassing situations where they have to admit they’ve had a data breach. If there are strong regulations in place, companies take data protection more seriously and are therefore less likely to suffer from breaches.
Why Learn About Data Policy?
Learning about data laws and policy is important for anyone with an interest in working in the field of data or information technology. So much of what tech companies do is now governed by data privacy regulations. The EU General Data Protection Regulation safeguards personal information in the EU (GDPR).
GDPR establishes stringent guidelines for the gathering, handling, and archiving of personal data. Businesses that gather personal information must make sure it is true, updated, and discarded as soon as the company no longer needs it. If the information is deemed to be of a “sensitive nature,” there are even harsher regulations.
The introduction of GDPR was a massive change, and it stands to reason that many other countries will follow suit. The rules are certainly changing on how organisations can handle and use data, and this will have far-reaching consequences for anyone working in this industry. By studying data policy, you can gain insight into the legal challenges posed by digitisation.
