What was the function of the EU Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC)?

The EU Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC) served as a foundational legal framework for the protection of personal data within the European Union prior to the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Its primary function was to establish principles and rules that governed how personal data should be processed, ensuring that individuals had their privacy rights respected and protected.

Under this directive, it was mandated that data processing should be fair, lawful, and transparent while emphasizing the importance of securing personal data and providing individuals with rights, such as access to their data and the ability to rectify inaccuracies. The directive laid the groundwork for subsequent regulations, including the GDPR, which came into effect in 2018 and expanded upon the protections initially established by the directive.

The other options do not accurately reflect the directive's function. It was not designed to replace GDPR regulations, promote online advertising, or manage financial transactions; rather, it focused specifically on the overarching goal of ensuring personal data privacy across the EU.