**Understanding data privacy: A guide for individuals and businesses**

[\\ Back to Kora Blog](https://www.korahq.com/fr/blog) In Merchant Security Awareness # Understanding data privacy: A guide for individuals and businesses October 21, 2025 October 22, 2025   Oluwapamilerin Awodipe Information Security Share Article [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.korahq.com/post/data-privacy-a-guide-for-individuals-and-businesses/)[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://www.korahq.com/post/data-privacy-a-guide-for-individuals-and-businesses&title=Understanding%20data%20privacy:%20A%20guide%20for%20individuals%20and%20businesses)[](https://twitter.com/share?text=Understanding%20data%20privacy:%20A%20guide%20for%20individuals%20and%20businesses&url=https://www.korahq.com/post/data-privacy-a-guide-for-individuals-and-businesses/) # Table of contents - [Personal vs. Organisational data privacy — What’s the difference?](https://www.korahq.com/fr/blog/data-privacy-a-guide-for-individuals-and-businesses#toc-personal-vs.-organisational-data-privacy-%E2%80%94-what%E2%80%99s-the-difference?) - [Privacy regulations and data accountability](https://www.korahq.com/fr/blog/data-privacy-a-guide-for-individuals-and-businesses#toc-privacy-regulations-and-data-accountability) - [9 data privacy practices for organisations to stay compliant](https://www.korahq.com/fr/blog/data-privacy-a-guide-for-individuals-and-businesses#toc-9-data-privacy-practices-for-organisations-to-stay-compliant) - [Conclusion](https://www.korahq.com/fr/blog/data-privacy-a-guide-for-individuals-and-businesses#toc-conclusion) # Editor's note: ‍ Data is everywhere, in your phone, at the doctor’s office, and in the apps your company uses. But not all data is the same, and not all uses are harmless. Every time you go online, whether to sign up for a newsletter or just browse and look up answers, you leave a digital footprint. This digital footprint could be used to identify you. ‍ The [Cisco Consumer Privacy Survey of 2024](https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/about/doing_business/trust-center/docs/cisco-consumer-privacy-report-2024.pdf) shows that 53% of consumers are now aware of data privacy laws in their country, with 75% of these consumers prioritising privacy when making purchasing decisions. ‍ In this blog post, we’ll show you what personal and organisational data privacy means, why collecting less is often smarter, what rights consumers have, and the importance of data privacy in building business products. ‍ ## Personal vs. Organisational data privacy — What’s the difference? [Personal data or Personally Identifiable Information (PII)](https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/pii) is any information that can be used to identify you as an individual, either directly or indirectly. It is any information that is private and specific to you. It includes the obvious details like your name, email address, and phone number, bank account details, even your pictures, biometric data, and even less obvious digital identifiers like your location, your computer's IP address, and your browsing history. This information paints a picture of who you are, and that’s exactly why it’s valuable. When exposed or misused, it can be exploited for scams, [identity theft](https://www.korahq.com/blog/identity-theft-how-to-protect-yourself), or other malicious activities. ‍ Organisational data, on the other hand, is any information that a company, institution, or agency creates, collects, or manages in the course of its operations. It represents the knowledge, activities, and assets that keep the organisation running. It includes their financial records, client data, employee information, internal strategies, sales figures, supply chain records, project documentation, internal procedures, etc. Some are sensitive, such as payroll information and client contracts, while other parts are public, like the company’s address or website content. ‍ The key issue is how companies manage and protect your personal data once it’s in their systems. Regulations are in place to ensure that when a business collects and uses personal data, it does so responsibly. For instance, that shoe store you shared your email with for a discount now stores your information in its database. The difference lies in ownership and context. A small microfinance firm that keeps clients’ loan applications and credit histories on an unprotected office computer is putting personal data at risk. If that same computer also holds the company’s internal financial records and vendor details, that’s organisational data at risk. Both are valuable, but while personal data belongs to individuals, organisational data belongs to the company, and both need strong protection. ‍ ## Privacy regulations and data accountability Data is known to be the world’s most valuable resource. But bad actors can also misuse the same data that powers innovation, shapes business decisions, and connects people across the globe if left unprotected. That’s why privacy regulations exist: to make sure people and businesss handle personal information with care, use it responsibly, and never exploit it. ‍ ### The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) [The GDPR was adopted in April 2016](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0679), with a two-year transition period, then became enforceable on 25 May 2018. It replaced the 1995 Data Protection Directive (Directive 95/46/EC). It applies to any organisation (inside or outside the EU) that processes data of EU citisens. Its goal is simple but powerful: to give people more control over their data while holding companies accountable through strict rules and penalties. ### Nigeria Data Protection ACT (NDPA) [The NDPA was signed into law in 2023](https://ndpc.gov.ng/resources/#flipbook-df_2442/1/), replacing the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), which was issued in 2019. The Act gives a more robust legal framework and aligns Nigeria’s laws with global best practices. It protects the personal data of Nigerians and regulates how organisations collect, store, process, and share that data. It establishes clear rules for data protection and ensures that Nigerian citisens have rights concerning their data. ‍ Across Africa and around the world, privacy regulations are gaining strength. Countries such as South Africa (POPIA), Kenya (Data Protection Act 2019), Ghana (Data Protection Act 2012), and Rwanda (Data Protection and Privacy Law 2021) have enacted laws that set clear standards for how to handle personal data. The trend extends globally, with frameworks like Brasil’s LGPD, California’s CCPA, Japan’s APPI, and Singapore’s PDPA reinforcing one shared goal, which is to give people more control over their personal information and hold organisations accountable for how they use it. ‍ These laws place a legal bind on service providers and companies that collect any form of data to protect it.Here’s a breakdown of how they do it: ‍ **1\. Lawful and fair use** An organisation cannot just collect your data because it feels like it. They must have a specific, legal reason, known as a "lawful basis for processing." A company needs your permission to use your data and must tell you exactly what they'll use it for. **2\. Clear and active consent** In the past, you might have s