The 5 steps to take in the event of a personal data breach and the RGPD
In today's digital age, personal data breaches have become commonplace, causing our right to privacy to falter. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a 2016 European regulation, is a wide-ranging European regulation designed to address the risk of personal data and privacy breaches. However, what should you do if you are the victim of a data breach? personal dataDespite the rampart of the RGPD? As a lawyer specialising in digital law, I offer you a five-step guide to navigating this tumultuous ocean of digital insecurity.
1. Become aware of the incident
The first step, although perhaps an obvious one, is to be aware of the data breach. The sooner you discover the intrusion, the sooner you can remedy it. Keep an eye on your financial accounts, check your bank statements and watch out for suspicious emails or messages. If you receive a notification from a service you use about a data breach, take it very seriously.
2. Assess the extent of the damage
Once a breach has been detected, it is important to assess the extent of the damage. What type of data has been compromised? Is it your name, your address, your social security number, your password, your credit card details? The seriousness of the situation will depend largely on the nature of the information stolen. A theft of credit card details is obviously more serious than a compromised email address.
3. Notify the appropriate authorities
Under the RGPD, in the event of a data breach, it is imperative to report the incident to the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours. In France, this is the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL). Make sure you document every detail of the breach: when and how it occurred, what data was exposed and what measures were taken.
4. Protect yourself after the breach
Protecting your data after a breach is a vital step. This can include changing your passwords, implementing two-step verification, monitoring your accounts and freezing your credit if necessary. In some cases, it may be wise to subscribe to a credit monitoring service to stay vigilant against identity theft.
5. Consult a professional
If you have been the victim of a major data breach, it may be time to seek professional advice. Data protection and cybersecurity lawyers can help you understand your rights, navigate the process of notifying the CNIL of a data breach, and can also help you take legal action if necessary.
Let's not forget that we live in an age where digital information has become a valuable asset and protecting that asset has become a paramount necessity. The GDPR is a powerful tool that strengthens our rights as individuals and protects us from data breaches. However, it is also essential to understand the steps to take when these protections appear to have failed.
Please bear in mind that this guide is not a substitute for professional legal advice. If you believe you have been the victim of a data breach, it is always best to contact a lawyer or other qualified person for legal advice.