The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), enacted in May 2018, is establishing Europe as a leading global tech watchdog. The regulation sets strict rules for protecting people's online data, impacting companies worldwide due to the internet's borderless nature.
The GDPR has led to many companies updating their privacy policies. It allows individuals to request their online data and restricts how businesses handle this information. This has caused concern for small businesses and local organizations with an online presence.
Countries like Brazil, Japan, and South Korea are adopting similar data protection laws, influenced by the EU's approach. The EU is actively encouraging global adoption by linking data protection to trade deals. A unified approach is considered crucial to curbing the power of Silicon Valley.
Europe is actively solidifying its role as a global tech watchdog. This involves stricter enforcement of antitrust laws against tech giants and the implementation of tougher tax policies on these companies.