What is GDPR in short & which tech giants got fined till now

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 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 came into effect on May 25, 2018, and replaced the previous Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC.

It sets out strict rules for the collection, use, and storage of personal data. It applies to all organizations that collect, process, and store personal data of EU citizens, regardless of whether the organization is based within or outside the EU. The regulation is designed to protect the privacy and data of EU citizens and give them greater control over their personal data.

GDPR applies to all organizations that collect, process, and store personal data of EU citizens, regardless of their size or location. This includes companies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

It applies to all individuals within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), regardless of their nationality or residence. It also applies to organizations that collect, process, and store personal data of EU citizens, regardless of whether the organization is based within or outside the EU.

GDPR was introduced to protect the privacy and data of EU citizens and give them greater control over their personal data. It was also designed to harmonize data protection laws across the EU and strengthen the rights of EU citizens.

GDPR is structured into 11 chapters and 99 articles. The key provisions of GDPR include:

• The right to be informed about the collection and use of personal data
• The right to access personal data and request its deletion
• The right to have personal data corrected or updated
• The right to object to the processing of personal data
• The right to restrict the processing of personal data
• The right to data portability
• The requirement for organizations to obtain consent before collecting and processing personal data
• The requirement for organizations to implement appropriate security measures to protect personal data
• The requirement for organizations to report data breaches to the relevant authorities within 72 hours
• The ability for EU citizens to file complaints with the relevant authorities if they believe their rights under GDPR have been violated

GDPR is a crucial regulation that sets out strict rules for the collection, use, and storage of personal data. It applies to all organizations that collect, process, and store personal data of EU citizens, regardless of their size or location. The regulation is designed to protect the privacy and data of EU citizens and give them greater control over their personal data.

The GDPR sets out strict rules for the collection, use, and storage of personal data, and failure to comply with these rules can result in significant fines. Several big tech companies have been fined under GDPR for violating the regulation.

One of the most significant fines was levied against Facebook, now known as Meta, in May 2023, when the company was fined $1.3 billion by the EU for violating GDPR[1][2]. The EU determined that Meta had violated Article 46(1) of GDPR by transferring personal data from the EU to the US without meeting the necessary conditions. The fine is the largest ever issued under GDPR, highlighting the EU’s commitment to enforcing the regulation.

Another significant GDPR fine was imposed on Amazon in July 2021, when the company was fined $887 million by the EU for violating GDPR[3]. The fine was related to Amazon’s use of personal data for targeted advertising without obtaining the necessary consent from users.

Google was also fined €50 million by the French data protection authority, the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), in January 2019 for violating GDPR[4]. The fine was related to Google’s lack of transparency and failure to obtain valid consent for personalized advertising.

In conclusion, GDPR is a crucial regulation that protects the privacy and data of EU citizens. Big tech companies that collect, process, and store personal data must comply with GDPR or face significant fines. The fines levied against Facebook, Amazon, and Google illustrate the EU’s commitment to enforcing GDPR and holding companies accountable for violating the regulation.