Principles of Data Privacy and Security in a Cyber World

Introduction

The whole world has entered into a new era with the unstoppable development of technology and internet. Hence, the individuals as well as countries started to live in the cyberspace created by such information systems. While social media and communication are the leading individual information systems, countries have introduced e-government or e-voting. Additionally, transnational information systems have become available as well.

Based on this fast development and various uses, individuals and countries encountered with many new challenges, one of which is the possibility to violate private rights. A number of potential problems may arise with regard to the data security particularly with the processing of private data as the part of private rights on the e-media. Therefore, fundamental private rights should be prevented as all kinds of information have free circulation due to the development of technology and internet.

The development of technology improved technological opportunities allowing suppliers and service providers perform their activities via internet. Because of the internet processes, service providers can collect and process large amounts of private data, which makes storage, access and transfer of private data easier. However, the collection and use of that many data introduced a different concept on information technologies called big data. Software and hardware systems should be much stronger and modern in order to work on and store big data. In addition to the necessary systems, security is also an important issue since data loss or data corruption many cause the collapse of whole system. Not only data corruption but also the use of data for malicious people may also be possible. Consequently, the collected and processed data may also cause tangible or intangible damages for people.

Unauthorized use of private data by other parties virtually or in daily life is illegal. However, the fast momentum in technology equally increases the chances for malicious people called hackers to have access or corrupt such data. Technology makes it also difficult to detect such people, and in some circumstances, it is not even possible to identify the crime. Hence, the significance of data security becomes prominent due to the nature of such cybercrimes. Private data that are shared by the individuals based on trust should be secured by the related institutions and organizations, and such data should be backed up to prevent a potential data loss.

The goal of this study is to identify the level of security in the prevention of private data based on the data security principle, evaluate the influence of technological developments on data security and reflect the legal and technological measures against the private data breach. This study also goals to clarify the concepts of private data and private data prevention, and analyse the reliability of data processed based on such concepts. Within this framework, the international practices by the United Nations, European Commission and European Union would be assessed, and the data prevention principles and their significance would be indicated. This study would also discuss the international conventions and European Union Directives on private data prevention and data security through giving examples regarding the existing practices. Additionally, the improvement opportunities for the information systems of each country would be analyzed based on the infrastructure facilities. Moreover, this study would also discuss the needs for developing countries with regard to the information system use or security improvement.

The fundamental rights and freedoms are affected adversely where the private data are shared without any authorization upon being generated and processed with information technologies. Hence, private data prevention is not only related with the right to privacy but also all of the fundamental rights and freedoms. The aspects data security, which is one of the crucial aspects on the private data prevention, has become a vital aspect where private data are acquired by third parties in the way of exceeding private data privacy. All countries should work in cooperation to take effective measures for data security and prevention of private data towards the circumstances that the boundaries of private data go beyond the privacy limits with the popularity of internet use. Hence, this study would indicate the required phases in the realization of data security efficiency.