What is the primary purpose of compliance regulations like GDPR?

The primary purpose of compliance regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is to protect personal data and privacy. GDPR establishes strict guidelines for how personal information must be handled by organizations within the European Union and those that handle the data of EU citizens. Its fundamental aim is to give individuals greater control over their personal data and to ensure that organizations are transparent and accountable in how they collect, use, and store such information.

This regulation emphasizes the importance of obtaining explicit consent from individuals before processing their personal data and provides them with rights to access, correct, and delete their information. By setting these standards, GDPR seeks to safeguard individuals' privacy and ensure that personal data is treated with respect and security.

The other potential purposes listed do not align with the main goal of GDPR. Enhancing network performance is more related to technical improvements rather than legal compliance. Maximizing profit touches on business goals rather than regulatory requirements, and improving software development processes is a technical concern that does not specifically address the legal and ethical implications of data privacy.