Data Protection and Privacy in Research

Research involving human subjects generates sensitive data: medical records, genetic information, behavioral responses, economic or social information. Regulatory frameworks—HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the U.S., GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in the European Union, and parallel regulations in other countries—establish legal obligations for data protection and privacy. Researchers must implement technical and procedural safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, maintain confidentiality, and comply with participant rights (access, rectification, deletion, data portability). Understanding data protection requirements is not optional compliance; it is foundational to ethical research.