Data protection law is a field of law dealing with the protection of personal data and the regulation of the processing of such data by public and private entities. At a time when technology and the Internet play an increasingly important role in our daily lives, data protection is crucial. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of data protection law.

Definition of personal data

Personal data is information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, date of birth, but also IP addresses or usage data that allow conclusions to be drawn about a person.

Legal basis

General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO)

The GDPR is a European Union regulation that has been in effect since May 25, 2018 and regulates the protection of personal data in the EU. It applies not only to companies and organizations based in the EU, but also to those outside the EU if they process data of EU citizens.

Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG)

In Germany, the BDSG supplements the GDPR and regulates additional aspects of data protection at the national level. It contains specific regulations, for example in the area of employee data protection.

Other relevant laws

In addition to the GDPR and the BDSG, there are other laws that affect data protection, such as the Telemedia Act (TMG), the Telecommunications Act (TKG) and the Social Code (SGB).

Data protection principles

Lawfulness of processing

Personal data may only be processed if there is a legal basis for doing so. This may be the consent of the data subject, a contract, a legal obligation or a legitimate interest.

Earmarking

Data may only be processed for the purpose for which it was collected.

Data minimization

Only as much data may be collected and processed as is necessary for the respective purpose.

Correctness

The data must be correct and up-to-date.

Memory limitation

Data must not be stored longer than necessary.

Integrity and confidentiality

Appropriate technical and organizational measures must be taken to protect the data.

Rights of the data subjects

The GDPR grants various rights to data subjects, including:

• Right to information
• Right to rectification
• Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”)
• Right to restriction of processing
• Right to data portability
• Right of objection

Data Protection Officer

Companies and organizations that process personal data must appoint a data protection officer in certain cases. This person is responsible for monitoring compliance with data protection laws and serving as a point of contact for data protection issues.

Data protection impact assessment

In certain cases, especially when data processing poses a high risk to the rights and freedoms of data subjects, a data protection impact assessment must be carried out. This is a risk assessment that must be performed before processing begins.

Sanctions and fines

Violations of data protection law can be punished with substantial fines. The GDPR provides for fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever is greater.

International data transmission

The transfer of personal data to countries outside the EU is only permitted under certain conditions. The GDPR contains specific rules for such data transfers to ensure that an adequate level of protection is provided.

Challenges and current topics

With advancing digitalization and the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and Big Data, new challenges for data protection law are constantly arising. It is important that the law keeps pace with technological developments to ensure the protection of personal data in the future.

Conclusion

Data protection law is a complex and dynamic area of law that is crucial for the protection of personal data and privacy. It requires a high level of care and compliance from companies and organizations that process personal data.