Strictly speaking, the GDPR is the Regulation (the law) which, together with the UK Data Protection Act 2018, form the legal basis upon which data protection compliance sits. Data protection is a broader concept referring to the measures and practices you undertake to safeguard personal data from unauthorised access, misuse, or exposure. It encompasses a variety of strategies, regulations, and technologies aimed at ensuring the
privacy and security of individuals' data across different contexts and industries.
On the other hand, the GDPR is a specific legal framework first established by the European Union (EU) to regulate data protection within its member states. The UK was a member of the EU when the GDPR became law in 2018 and so was subject to its requirements. The GDPR sets stringent guidelines and requirements for organisations for handling people's personal data. It includes provisions on data subject rights, data breach notifications, and penalties for non-compliance, among other aspects.
In essence, while data protection is the overarching goal, the GDPR is one of the tools designed to achieve this goal. It represents a comprehensive approach to data protection, aiming to give individuals greater control over their personal data. Therefore, while the terms are interconnected, they are not synonymous; GDPR is a regulatory mechanism within the broader sphere of data protection.
