Personal data protection has become an increasingly pressing concern in an era dominated by digital connectivity and data mining. In light of recent revelations that the US government is purchasing citizens’ data to keep tabs on them, online privacy is as critical as ever. In contrast, Europe’s “right to erasure” is a significant step forward in protecting privacy in the digital age.
This right empowers individuals to control their personal information and keep it out of data brokers’ clutches. In stark contrast, in the US, data brokers’ are freely collecting and selling private data to corporations. Recent allegations of government entities purchasing citizens’ data raise concerns about privacy and data security. On the other hand, Europe’s right to erasure is centered around the implications for data protection.
Online privacy in Europe
The European Union (EU) enacted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018. As part of its provisions, the GDPR established the right to erasure, also known as the “right to be forgotten.”
This ground-breaking legislation allows individuals to request deleting their personal data from online platforms. Individuals should have control over their own information. This is especially true when corporations are storing and processing it. That’s where the right to erasure protects citizens from corporate or government “espionage.”
Under the GDPR, individuals can request that companies erase their for a number of reasons. For example, if data is no longer required for its original purpose, if individuals withdraw their consent, or if data processing violates individual rights. This right is critical for preserving privacy, preventing personal information misuse, and mitigating data sharing’s potential harm.
Contrasting approaches to data collection
While Europe has made progress in protecting individuals’ privacy rights, data collection practices in the United States present a stark contrast. Data brokers play an important role in the collection of vast amounts of personal data in the United States, including social media platforms, online activities, and public records. They then package and sell private information to corporations and government entities, raising concerns about data security and privacy infringement.
Data brokers work in an unregulated environment with little oversight and transparency over the collection and sale of personal information. This practice has come under scrutiny due to the possibility of abuse from data breaches. As mentioned above, reports suggest the US government is purchasing citizens’ data to spy on them without a warrant.
Beyond that, data collection highlights individuals’ lack of control over their own data. If data brokers are making billions of dollars off of personal data, citizens could receive payment for their data.
Protecting privacy in the digital age
The right to erasure in Europe is a pillar of privacy protection. Giving individuals more control and autonomy over their personal data. The right to erasure empowers individuals to manage their online presence and protect their privacy by allowing them to request the deletion of their information.
The absence of a thorough regulatory framework in the US exposes personal data to data brokers’ or other entities’ exploitation. Concerns about surveillance, targeted advertising, and potential violations of privacy rights arise when data brokers sell personal information to corporations and government agencies. These practices can result in unwarranted intrusion into people’s lives as well as manipulation of their choices and behavior.
