Finally, our internet data is more private

The new, stringent EU privacy rules should become the accepted standard across the globe

Privacy is a value that is cherished when it comes to our own personal profiles in the UAE, and the public in general are prohibited from encroaching on that in our day-today lives. But in the online wold, in this age of the internet of everything, where our personal details are readily available to more and more companies who operate websites or by enhancing our online presence through social media platforms, we all are seemingly more vulnerable than ever.

Across the 28-member nations that make up the European Union — a bloc that is composed of some 550 million people — the concept of online privacy is taken very seriously. As it stands right now, all those who are EU citizens and those who reside there as well, are covered by a protection that worked well when it was initially introduced in 1995. Even though that’s only 23 years ago, it truly is the last century when it comes to the sheer pace of technological developments that have made the internet ubiquitous and all-the-more invasive in terms of our personal details and the connected world.

But on May 25, a new, modern and much more far-reaching data privacy environment comes into force. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) means that any company who has any record of anyone living in the EU — even non-citizens but merely living there — must take extreme steps to protect the privacy rights of individuals. It places strict curbs on the sharing of that data, limit how data will be used, and goes so far as making any company or online entity responsible for keeping detailed records on everyone — and must surrender that data should anyone wish to be forgotten in an online capacity. And failing to do so leaves those companies liable to fines of €20 million (Dh89.1 million) or 4 per cent of their global profits — whichever is greater.

Because of the far-reaching effects of GDPR and the fact that companies simply cannot take the risk of erring, and to avoid the costs of maintaining two separate databases for customers inside and outside the EU, anyone with any internet presence will benefit from the knock-on effects even though they live somewhere else on the planet. This new GDPR environment provides more personal rights, protects the privacy of individuals and tempers the ability for others to profit from data. It’s a welcome step, and the GPDR should now be generally adopted worldwide to ensure a level and private playing field for all.