Data Privacy And Corporate Compliance With European Law: Why It Matters More Than Ever
- IJLLR Journal
- Apr 30
- 1 min read
Devanshu Gupta, LL.B., Lloyd Law College
Introduction: A New Age of Responsibility
In recent years, something fundamental has changed in the digital world. We’re no longer just users of technology—we are its product. Every online search, click, purchase, or pause on a video leaves a digital footprint. That footprint, when aggregated and analysed, becomes incredibly valuable for businesses. But with this value comes a burden—a legal, ethical, and social responsibility to handle that data with care.
Enter the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)—a legal framework enacted by the European Union (EU) that has changed how companies across the globe think about data privacy. For corporations doing business in or with Europe, GDPR compliance is no longer optional. But more than that, it has sparked a global shift, influencing how privacy is perceived and protected from India to California.
This article dives into the heart of that transformation, exploring not only what the GDPR requires, but also why it matters, how it affects global corporate operations, and what the future holds for data privacy in an interconnected world.
The Story Behind GDPR: From Directive to Revolution
Let’s rewind a little. Before GDPR, there was the Data Protection Directive (1995), a piece of EU legislation that provided general guidance on privacy. But as technology evolved, so did the complexities of data collection. Social media, cloud storage, AI-driven advertising—none of these were truly covered by a law written in the dial-up era.
The GDPR, which came into effect in 2018, was a much-needed upgrade. It took a bold step by asserting that personal data belongs to individuals—not companies—and gave users enforceable rights over their data.
