What is the difference between privacy and data protection?

The distinction between privacy and data protection is fundamentally important in the realm of information privacy and technology. Privacy centers on the rights of individuals regarding their personal information, including how it is collected, used, and shared. It encompasses individual autonomy and the ability to control one’s own personal data. In contrast, data protection focuses on the measures, strategies, and regulations that organizations implement to safeguard personal data from unauthorized access and breaches. These operational measures include security protocols, compliance with applicable laws, and the implementation of data management practices.

By recognizing that privacy is about the rights of individuals while data protection involves the practical approaches organizations take to uphold those rights, one can understand how both concepts work together to create a comprehensive framework for responsible data handling. This distinction is crucial, as it informs how organizations develop policies and procedures to respect individual rights while protecting data integrity and security.