Věra Jourová

Jourová's most enduring achievement is the GDPR, which set a global benchmark for data protection. Her work on that regulation earned her a spot on TIME's 100 most influential people list in 2019, an honor that recognized the law's worldwide impact. She also steered the EU's Code of Practice on Disinformation and pushed for AI transparency rules before they became mainstream issues.Beyond formal awards, her influence shows in how other jurisdictions have adopted GDPR-style laws. Brazil, Japan, and California all drew on the EU framework. That kind of policy diffusion is rare, and it marks Jourová as one of the most consequential digital-rights regulators of her era.