The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law comes into force on Friday, May 25.

It means that the way in which companies and organisations handle and use our personal data will become more transparent.

The new framework for data protection laws will replace the current 1995 directive which current UK law is based upon.

Here is everything you need to know about the GDPR., as reported in the Mirror online .

Who does the GDPR affect?

Practically everyone. If you have signed up to any kind of online service, whether it is a Clubcard from Tesco or a Gmail account from Google, you will be covered by the new legislation.

The only people whose data it does not cover is the deceased.

It is not just about being online, either. People who do not use the internet are still covered as their data may be processed so they can receive letters or magazine subscriptions through the post.

Furthermore, if you are an employee, you will have certain rights because the company you work for is processing your data in order to pay your salary, provide you with equipment or know where you are during work hours.

Any firm with employees will have to make them aware of when and how their data is being used.

What does it mean for me?

First, you can expect to be told more about how your data is being used. Second, you can request access to it and ask for copies of it, or have the entire process stopped.

What’s more, firms have to be clear and transparent about everything, which is why you might be getting a flurry of emails asking you to tick boxes to give your consent for use of your data.

You may also see new icons pop up on your mobile phone to indicate that you are agreeing to something that will need to process data, such as your email address, phone number or even your location.

For example, on an iPhone, you will now see a small blue icon of two people shaking hands; Apple’s way of telling you a feature needs access to your information.

Why is it so serious?

Part of the reason companies are taking such notice of GDPR is that the fines involved for noncompliance are gigantic.

For the most serious breaches, regulators will be able to issue penalties equivalent to up to 4% of annual global turnover or €20million; whichever is greater. For giant companies, these fines could run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

Will it make a difference?

It already appears to be. Many large technology and internet companies have begun the process of making their data practices more transparent.

Both Facebook and Twitter have been rolling out updates to their privacy policies, adding clearer language and description of data use, and offering more tools to users to share or remove their personal data from that platform.

If you start receiving letters from companies asking for your consent to continue doing the things they were doing before, that is the GDPR at work.

Just make sure you decide if you want them to continue or not.

Should you care about the changes?

Yes, you should. Increasingly your personal data is the currency that fuels the online world. The more control you have over it, the better.

As part of the new laws, companies must give users greater access to controls around what data they share and want to keep private.

Facebook, for example, is rolling out a tool that enables users to opt-in to facial recognition being used to scan their photos, but also the chance to switch it off.

And, fanfare, you are now able to reject or opt out of things such as direct marketing at any point, so it is the perfect time to finally stop all those spam messages.