Your Rights
You have data rights, however these rights aren't global (they should be). Your digital rights depend on where you live, and where the companies you do online business with live. Yes, it does feel a bit like you live inside a Black Mirror episode so we've tried to clear it up below.
Europe
If you live in Europe or the online company you interact with is in Europe your digital rights are protected by the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
Ways You'll See The GDPR Online
You'll see that “We have cookies” message and you'll need to agree.
When you sign up for an email newsletter you'll get a double-opt in and the company will clearly say how often they will email you and what it will contain.
If you're asked to create an account, or log in the company will tell you what they're going to do with your data.
Take Action With The GDPR
If you're under the GDPR umbrella there are things you can do:
You can ask any company what data they hold on you.
You can ask to have that data deleted.
So if you're not sure what a company is doing with your data you have the right to ask.
Your Rights Under The GDPR
If you're under the GDPR umbrella there are things you can do:
Transparency and communication:
The right to knowing how your data is processed and having this explained to you in a clear and timely manner.Collecting personal data:
The right to know your data is being accessed at the moment it occurs.Right of access:
The right to know what your data is being used for, where it is being collected, and how long it is being stored.Accuracy:
The right to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.Right to erasure:
The right to request your data is erased and for this to be easy and straightforward.Right to restrict processing:
The right to request that your data is temporarily or permanently processed in a different way.Data portability:
The right to request a copy of your personal data or for your data to be sent to a third party.Right to object:
The right to object to your data being processed.
California
If you live in California your digital rights are protected by the CCPA (California Consumer Protection Act) which goes into effect January 1, 2020.
Ways You’ll See The CCPA Online
If you’re a Californian resident you won’t see much change on the surface of your web browsing.
Take Action With The CCPA
If you’re under the CCPA umbrella there are things you can do:
Ask any company that holds data on you to opt-out. The business has 45 days to delete your data.
Ask any company to place a ‘Do Not Sell’ your on your personal data.
Your Rights Under the CCPA
The CCPA explicitly guarantees California residents a series of rights concerning personal data collected online:
The right of Californians to know what personal information is being collected about them
The right of Californians to know whether their personal information is sold or disclosed and to whom.
The right of Californians to say no to the sale of personal information.
The right of Californians to access their personal information.
The right of Californians to equal service and price, even if they exercise their privacy rights.
The Rest of the World
Sorry to say, but if you’re outside of the GDPR and the CCPA your rights aren't being well protected.
The good news is that most major companies are GDPR compliant because they have customers in the European Union. So you might want to spend some time checking the websites you shop or spend time on and take a look to see if they mention GDPR compliance.
