Henkilötietolailla

Henkilötietolailla, also known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in English, is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). It also addresses the export of personal data outside the EU and EEA areas. The regulation aims to give individuals control over their personal data and to simplify the regulatory environment for international business by unifying the regulation within the EU.

The GDPR applies to the processing of personal data of individuals in the EU, regardless of whether the data controller is established in the EU. It introduces several key principles, including lawfulness, fairness, and transparency; purpose limitation; data minimization; accuracy; storage limitation; integrity and confidentiality; and accountability. These principles ensure that personal data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

Key rights granted to individuals under the GDPR include the right to be informed, the right of access, the right to rectification, the right to erasure, the right to restrict processing, the right to data portability, and the right to object. These rights empower individuals to have more control over their personal data and to exercise their privacy rights.

The GDPR also imposes obligations on data controllers and processors, including the need to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) in certain cases, to conduct data protection impact assessments, and to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure the security of personal data. Non-compliance with the GDPR can result in significant fines, making it a critical piece of legislation for organizations handling personal data.