DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY LAWS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

In the digital age, where every action on the internet is associated with generating large volumes of personal information, privacy has become one of the key legal and societal concerns. The following article will cover the notions of data protection and privacy and their connection, as well as the legislative approaches to guaranteeing the rights of individuals in the rapidly developing world. It will highlight the most important aspects of such approaches as the consent principle, the purpose principle, the minimalization principle, transparency, and accountability. The paper will review international standards such as the GDPR of the EU and the Indian law, which includes the Supreme Court’s decision in the Puttaswamy case (2017) and the DPDP Act of 2023. The key issues in question will be fast development of technologies (AI, biometrics, and facial recognition), cross-border data transfer, security versus privacy, and lack of awareness among individuals. In conclusion, the paper will state that strong data protection laws are necessary to ensure trust towards the technologies and the balance of interests.