OneTrust Certified Privacy Professional 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the primary regulatory framework focused on the protection of personal data in Europe. Enforced since May 25, 2018, GDPR sets stringent requirements for how organizations handle personal data, with the aim of enhancing individuals' control over their personal information and increasing the accountability of data processors and controllers.

GDPR applies to any organization operating within the EU or processing the personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the organization itself is located. This comprehensive regulation establishes principles such as data minimization, purpose limitation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity and confidentiality, and accountability, which organizations must adhere to when processing personal data.

The other regulatory frameworks mentioned serve different purposes. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) focuses on privacy rights for California residents and is specific to the United States. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides guidelines for managing privacy risk but is not a regulatory framework governing personal data protection like GDPR. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) pertains specifically to the management of health information in the United States. Each of these frameworks addresses different aspects of privacy and data protection, but GDPR is the cornerstone regulation for personal data protection within Europe.