In the US, the government tends to favour business over individuals when it comes to most matters. On the other hand, the EU places more emphasis on the consumer, which is where the need for GDPR originated. Prior to this new legislation, the Data Protection Directive had been in place, but now there’s a move to repeal the legislation. The new legislation was first tabled in April 2016, and they are intended to come into effect on the 25th of May this year. It was put together by the European Parliament, European Commission and the Council of the European Union.
The main issue the legislation aims to achieve is to protect consumers’ data once it is handed over to companies. The need for data sharing is undeniable since it is the only way companies are able to operate. To this effect, GDPR will not block the sharing of information, but it places a greater burden on the companies to protect personal data once it has been submitted. The new laws will govern how companies handle data at each step of the way, then give the consumer ultimate control.