Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new law on data privacy, designed to protect people’s rights and their personal information.

It’s important because for the first time ever, individuals will have the power to demand that a company reveals or deletes the personal data they hold, while regulators will be able to work together across the European Union, enforcing their decisions with serious penalties: The maximum fine will now reach either €20 million or 4 percent of the company’s global turnover, whichever is higher.

This could potentially run into the billions of euros for some firms.

What does GDPR mean for me?

If you fall into categories described above, then it means you will now be protected by the strongest data privacy laws in the world. You have the right to be forgotten, meaning you can demand the deletion of your name from websites, and you can also revoke your consent for data to be used by marketing firms and tech companies.

It will give you the power to challenge companies on how they use your personal information like never before.