Balancing data protection and human rights in the digital age: A review

The rapid pace of advancement of digital technology has tremendously influenced the manner of collection, storage, processing, and use of personal data. This situation brought to the fore concerns about data privacy, informational autonomy, and consequences for the fundamental human rights in a digital society. This review seeks to establish the nexus between data protection and essential human rights in contemporary times. It discusses the various international legal regimes and the effectiveness of the GDPR, particularly in the European context, in countering threats of excessive surveillance, unauthorized use of data, algorithmic discrimination, and infringement of personal freedoms. The paper highlights how digital platforms and state surveillance programs impede the exercise of data collection and analysis by corporate entities. A call is made for a rights-based and balanced approach to data governance that supports technological advancement and economic growth while ensuring accountability, transparency, and personal freedoms. The review intends to outline the way forward in order to put into practice measures that achieve the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable data governance paradigms consistent with democratic values, increase public trust, and reflect dignity and rights for individuals in the digital age.