Data privacy refers to the protection of individuals’ personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, and exploitation. It encompasses policies, procedures, and technologies designed to ensure that sensitive data is collected, processed, stored, and shared in a manner that respects individuals’ privacy rights and complies with relevant laws and regulations.

Key principles of data privacy include transparency, where organizations are required to inform individuals about the purposes of data collection and how their information will be used. Consent mechanisms ensure that individuals have the right to control the collection and processing of their personal data, and they must give explicit consent for such activities to occur.

Data minimization involves collecting only the necessary information required for a specific purpose and storing it for the shortest time necessary. Security measures such as encryption, access controls, and data anonymization help protect personal data from unauthorized access and breaches.