CIPT (Certified Information Privacy Technologist) Practice

What does "data portability" allow individuals to do?

1. Transfer personal data between service providers

2. Store personal data securely

3. Encrypt personal data

4. Delete personal data permanently

The correct answer is: Transfer personal data between service providers

Data portability allows individuals to transfer their personal data between service providers seamlessly. This concept is particularly significant in the context of privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which recognizes the individual's right to obtain and reuse their personal data across different services. When individuals can transfer their data, they gain greater control over their information, enabling them to switch providers without losing the data they have accumulated. This promotes competition among service providers, as it encourages better services and practices in handling personal information. In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of data management but do not encompass the core concept of data portability. Storing personal data securely relates to data protection practices, while encrypting data involves securing it through technology. Deleting personal data permanently is about data retention and rights to erasure, rather than transferring data between entities. Thus, the fundamental essence of data portability is captured in the ability to transfer personal data between service providers.