Every time you use an app, create a profile online or make a purchase, you leave behind a growing trail of personal data. This information is critical to companies, which use it to streamline operations, better serve customers and make key business decisions. It also drives innovation, enabling new products and services that offer more convenience and functionality. But a single security lapse or data breach can put all that at risk.
Data privacy is the principle that individuals have the right to control how their personal information is collected, used and shared. It is rooted in the concept of individual autonomy and enshrined in laws and compliance regulations around the world.
The most common definition of data privacy includes the protection of sensitive personal information, such as social security numbers, medical records or credit card details. But it can also refer to the privacy of company information that enables businesses to operate and compete, such as proprietary research or financial information.
The good news is that the vast majority of organizations value data privacy and take proactive steps to protect it. In fact, many consider it to be a core element of their culture and the foundation of their reputation. But even the most robust cybersecurity measures are no guarantee against a security breach, phishing attack or other data privacy issue. That’s why it’s essential for individuals to understand what privacy means and how they can best preserve their own data privacy.
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