Description: A notifiable data breach is a security incident that involves unauthorized access, disclosure, or loss of personal data that may compromise individuals’ privacy. This type of breach is particularly relevant in the context of data protection, as organizations are required to notify the relevant authorities and, in some cases, the affected individuals about the incident. The importance of data anonymization lies in its ability to mitigate the risk of data breaches, as anonymized data cannot be linked to specific individuals, thereby reducing the severity of a potential leak. However, if anonymized data can be re-identified, the breach remains notifiable. Key characteristics of a notifiable data breach include the nature of the compromised data, the number of individuals affected, and the potential harm that could result from the incident. The relevance of this concept has increased with the implementation of regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, both of which establish clear guidelines on how to handle and report data breaches, emphasizing organizations’ responsibility in protecting personal information.
