Privacy by Design: A Systematic Literature Review of European and British Regulatory Perspectives for Software and Information Engineering

This systematic literature review examines the key recommendations for the implementation of Privacy by Design and Data Protection by Design principles of the European data protection authorities, including the European Free Trade Association countries and the United Kingdom. The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation in May 2018 was a pivotal moment for data protection. As a result, the European data protection authorities have significantly intensified their publication efforts and issued more documents about Privacy by Design and Data Protection by Design. The results of the systematic literature review data minimisation and the implementation of technical and organisational measures as key recommendations for the effective integration of data protection principles in software development. Despite these efforts, user privacy remains at risk, as evidenced by emerging threats. This emphasises the need to further strengthen efforts to protect data. This overview could serve as an incentive to intensify work on Privacy by Design and develop innovative approaches to address the growing challenges of data protection. It is important to note that this study has its limitations. Future research could focus on analysing documents in national languages or documents published by other European authorities. It would also be beneficial to investigate the challenges and requirements of software engineers when implementing data protection policies, in particular how local differences and specific requirements affect the application of Privacy by Design and Data Protection by Design. A detailed study of country-specific policies and the development and validation of concrete methods and tools to support software engineers should also be pursued more intensively.