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Reference.org
Data Protection Directive
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<p>The Data Protection Directive, officially Directive 95/46/EC, enacted in October 1995, was a <a href="/facts/European_Union_directive/KS076mKR">European Union directive</a> which regulated the processing of <a href="/facts/Personal_data/384PbBg5">personal data</a> within the <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a> (EU) and the free movement of such data. The Data Protection Directive was an important component of EU <a href="/facts/Privacy_law/MqQ3j0UU">privacy</a> and <a href="/facts/Human_rights_law/7ugYK3zV">human rights law</a>. </p><p>The principles set out in the Data Protection Directive were aimed at the protection of <a href="/facts/Fundamental_rights/VwhDNd5X">fundamental rights</a> and freedoms in the processing of personal data. The <a href="/facts/General_Data_Protection_Regulation/RMLY6ohr">General Data Protection Regulation</a>, adopted in April 2016, superseded the Data Protection Directive and became enforceable on 25 May 2018. </p>