Estonia's data protection in comparison to the GDPR

General overview

In Estonia, the Data Protection Inspectorate is the main body responsible for overseeing data protection and privacy matters. The country has a robust framework for data protection, which aligns closely with the GDPR. Estonia has also implemented additional regulations to ensure the secure processing of personal data.

GDPR opening clauses

Estonia has fully adopted the GDPR, which came into effect on May 25, 2018. The country has not made significant deviations from the EU-wide regulations but has specific guidelines to ensure compliance in various sectors.

Key differences and national specifics

1.    Sector-specific regulations: Estonia has additional data protection obligations in certain sectors like healthcare, finance, and telecommunications.
2.    Data localization: Unlike some EU countries, Estonia does not have strict data localization laws, but it does have guidelines for data storage.
3.    Data Protection Officers: The appointment of Data Protection Officers is mandatory for public authorities and organizations that process sensitive data.
4.    Cybersecurity: Estonia places a strong emphasis on cybersecurity and has specific regulations to protect against data breaches.
5.    E-governance: Estonia is a pioneer in e-governance and has specific regulations for the protection of personal data in electronic governance systems.

Conclusion

Estonia has a comprehensive data protection framework that aligns closely with the GDPR. The country has additional guidelines and regulations for specific sectors and places a strong emphasis on cybersecurity and e-governance. Businesses operating in Estonia should be aware of these specific regulations in addition to the general GDPR guidelines.