GDPR implementation as the main reason for the regional fragmentation in the online mediasphere

Abstract

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies not only to the territory of the European Union, but also to all information systems containing data of EU’s citizens around the world. Misusing or carelessly handling personal data bring fines of up to 20 million euros or 4% of the annual turnover of the offending company. This article analyzes the main trends in the global implementation of the GDPR. Authors considered and analyzed results of personal data protection measures in nineteen regions: The USA, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea and Thailand, as well as the European Union and a handful of other. This allowed identifying a direct pattern between the global tightening of EU’s citizens personal data protection and the fragmentation of the global mediasphere into separate national segments. As a result of the study, the authors conclude that GDPR has finally slowed down the globalization of the online mediasphere, playing a main role in its regional fragmentation.