GDPR: why is it important to comply with this legislation?
Protecting the rights and freedoms of data subjects
If you process personal data, your job is to protect the rights and freedoms of data subjects in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
For this you must evaluate the possible risks associated with the processing of personal data within your research. You do this by taking into account the risk of discrimination, stigmatisation, data breaches (disclosing the identity or sensitive data of people, or damaging their reputation through a breach of confidentiality), threats to the safety of participants and possible misuse of research methodology or findings.
By evaluating the risks you can provide the right safeguards within your research to limit and even avoid these risks.
Other reasons
In addition, there are a number of other important reasons for applying the GDPR rules meticulously in your research:
- careful handling of data increases the quality and reliability of your research and the research results
- careful handling of data retains the confidence of citizens in scientific research
- a violation of the law can lead to reputational damage and negative media attention for Ghent University, your department and yourself as a researcher, and can also lead to heavy fines
- compliance with the GDPR is often explicitly imposed by research funders (such as Horizon 2020, ERC, FWO) or even described as a work package (deliverable) in a project
- when publications are submitted, journals are also increasingly asking for compliance with the GDPR
More information
More tips
- GDPR: Can I share research data with personal data with other researchers or institutions when my research project has ended? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: how can I ensure that the processing of personal data is lawful? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: how do I protect my data correctly? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: how do I register personal data processing activities? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: how long may I store research data containing personal data? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: how to be transparent to data subjects in my research? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: what are personal data? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: what are some things to consider when processing personal data from minors? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What are the basic principles? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What are the different roles and responsibilities according to the GDPR? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What do I need to think about when transferring personal data to third countries or international organisations? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What do I need to think about when using a mailing list in the context of my research? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: what has changed with regard to the previous privacy legislation? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What information should I include in an informed consent form when the processing of personal data is based on the consent of the data subjects? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: what is the General Data Protection Regulation? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What rights do data subjects have, how do I respect them and what exceptions may apply to research? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: what should I do in case of a data breach? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What should I do in the event of further/secondary processing of personal data? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What should I keep in mind when designing my research? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: what should I keep in mind when processing special categories of personal data? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: What should I think about when I collaborate with others or share my data? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: When am I processing high-risk personal data and when do I need to conduct a DPIA? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: when does it apply to my research? (Research integrity & ethics)
- GDPR: who are considered to be vulnerable persons? (Research integrity & ethics)
- Qualtrics: how do I use this survey tool? (Research integrity & ethics)
Translated tip
Last modified March 12, 2024, 2:30 p.m.