Under the GDPR, how are breaches in data protection generally classified?

Under the GDPR, breaches in data protection are classified as serious violations with substantial fines. The regulation emphasizes the importance of protecting personal data and establishes a framework for how organizations must manage and secure that data. In cases of a data breach, organizations can face significant financial penalties, which can be up to 4% of their global annual turnover or €20 million, whichever is higher. This reflects the seriousness of the breaches and the potential harm they can cause to individuals whose data has been compromised.

Furthermore, the GDPR requires organizations to notify individuals and supervisory authorities of breaches when there is a risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, highlighting the regulation's focus on accountability and transparency. The classification of breaches as serious violations serves as a strong deterrent for organizations, encouraging robust data protection measures and compliance with the regulation.