What are the Data Protection/Privacy Laws?
There are over 60 countries with Data Protection/Privacy Laws. The overall purpose of these laws is to secure the rights of individuals regarding their personal data. The laws generally establish the minimum standards for the collection, processing and securing of data. They also limit the use of the personal data to the purpose for which the data was given, by imposing destruction once the purpose has been fulfilled, and by providing the individuals with access to their personal data. “Personal data” usually means any information that identifies a person, in particular by reference to an identification number or to one or more factors specific to his/her physical, physiological, mental, economic, cultural or social identity. For examples of relevant laws, please see the following web sites: • http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/index_en.htm (for the European Directive on Data Protection), • http://privacy.gov.au/law (for Australian privacy laws), • http://www.priv.gc.ca/index
