Privacy by Design (PbD), initially developed by Ann Cavoukian starting in 1995, is a proactive systems engineering approach that integrates privacy considerations throughout the entire lifecycle of products and services. The framework was formally published in 2009 and gained international recognition in 2010 when adopted as a standard by the International Assembly of Privacy Commissioners.
PbD is built upon seven foundational principles, most notably "Privacy as the Default Setting," which ensures personal data is automatically protected without requiring user intervention. While initially criticized for its vagueness and implementation challenges, recent advancements in Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) have made its principles more feasible in real-world applications.
Significantly, this commitment to proactive privacy is now a core requirement incorporated into the European GDPR regulation, solidifying its global importance in data protection.