Personal data

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MY ONLINE SECURITY. MY LIFE.

Protect my personal data with EU rules

DATA PROTECTION

Should I be concerned if a business I've never heard of knows my name and email address? Since 25 May 2018, new legislation offers stronger protection for my personal data, giving me more control over the way that organisations get hold of, process and store information about me. For instance, I’m able to obtain a copy of all of the data that a particular business or organisation holds on me, and I can ask for it to be erased when no longer needed or if processing it is unlawful. I can also ask for any inaccurate or incomplete personal data to be corrected. In situations where my consent is required, I have to give it through a clear affirmative action. I also have the right to withdraw my consent at any time.

UNDER LOCK AND KEY

When I hand over important information about myself – like my name, telephone number or credit card details – I want to know that it’s safe. EU laws require anyone processing my personal data to make sure it’s handled with care.

SAFE AND SECURE

What do social networks, online shops and job applications have in common? Simple: they all require me to trust organisations with personal information that could potentially be lost or stolen. But fear not – there are new EU rules in action from May 2018 to tackle data breaches. If personal data about me is compromised in a way that is likely to jeopardise my rights and freedoms, I must be alerted without delay. I may also be entitled to compensation. So, no more cyber nightmares for me – I can carry on shopping and surfing online safely.

Respecting privacy

How is that website showing me adverts for running shoes I looked at yesterday? It’s all down to cookies stored by websites on my computer to remember my online preferences. EU rules ensure that I have to give my consent before a website can do this and that I may object to this kind of advertising at any time, helping to protect my privacy online.

No junk allowed

Not so long ago, our inboxes were full of adverts, spam and unwanted emails. Today, thanks to EU laws, I have the right to object to receiving emails for marketing purposes. This means that when I open my inbox, I only see messages from the businesses I actually want to hear from.

CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT

If I’m unhappy with the way my personal data is being processed, I have the right to complain to the person or organisation processing it, to my national data protection authority, or to a court of law.

How it works

Every time I book a holiday, write something on social media, search for more information online, open a bank account or buy a train ticket online, I’m handing over key pieces of personal information.In the EU, the protection of my personal data is a fundamental right. My personal information must be handled with care and responsibility. Organisations are required to collect data properly and for a specific purpose; the information they collect should be limited to what is necessary and must not be kept any longer than needed. My personal data must also be protected against loss, destruction, or theft, and it’s up to the organisation to ensure that this is the case.

Did you know?

71%

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of Europeans believe that disclosing personal information is an increasing part of modern life.

68%

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of all internet users in the EU shopped online in 2017.

25 May 2018

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The date of entry into application of the new data protection legislation (General Data Protection Regulation) and of my new rights.

46%

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of Europeans give out their personal information to make a payment online, and 44% do so to have a purchase delivered.

Forget me, please

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No longer using a social media account? I can request that an organisation or business delete my personal data when it’s no longer relevant or necessary.

Prefer people?

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I can request that any important decisions based upon automated processing – such as my eligibility for a mortgage – be made by real people, not computers, so I can be sure that someone is taking the time to review my information.

Director's Video

/euandme/file/loner-euandme-short-film-directed-tomasz-konecki-0_enThe Loner: an #EUandME short film directed by Tomasz Konecki

The Loner, directed by Tomasz Konecki

A man of the wilderness, Jan lives alone in a cabin in the Polish mountains. But when destiny interrupts his solitary lifestyle, he must devise a plan in order to follow his heart.