The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive set of data privacy laws that were implemented by the European Union in 2018. It aims to protect the personal data of individuals within the EU and regulates how organizations collect, use, and store this data. The GDPR requires companies to obtain explicit consent from individuals before collecting their personal information and gives individuals the right to access, correct, and delete their data. It also imposes strict penalties for non-compliance, making it a crucial framework for safeguarding personal data in the digital age.