Which regulation should a company researching operations in Europe focus on for data analysis compliance?

Focusing on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is essential for any company researching operations in Europe due to its comprehensive framework for data protection and privacy. GDPR sets stringent guidelines regarding the collection, processing, and storage of personal data of individuals within the European Union and the European Economic Area. It emphasizes the importance of obtaining explicit consent from individuals before processing their data, ensuring transparency, and giving individuals rights over their personal data, such as the right to access, rectify, or erase their information.

Companies operating or planning to operate in Europe must ensure compliance with GDPR to avoid substantial fines and legal repercussions. Given its broad applicability to any entity dealing with personal data of EU residents, it is the primary regulation that organizations must prioritize to maintain compliance in their data analysis efforts.

Other regulations mentioned, such as COPPA, focus on the protection of children's online privacy in the U.S., PCI DSS pertains to payment card security standards, and CMMI relates to process improvement rather than direct data privacy regulations. Therefore, these are not applicable when considering data analysis compliance for operations in Europe.