While great news for individuals, it presents complex problems for companies. As a case in point – they could face fines running into tens of millions of Euros if they breach the new directive. With that in mind, we’ve put together this simple explainer to answer the key questions.
What’s GDPR again?
It is a new set of rules governing the privacy and security of personal data laid down by the European Commission. The new single data protection act will make major changes to all of Europe’s privacy laws and will replace the outdated Data Protection Directive from 1995.
What is the point of the new laws?
They have been designed to give power back to citizens over how their data is processed and used. Under the new rules, individuals have “the right to be forgotten”, meaning they will be able to request that businesses delete their no longer necessary or accurate personal data. Plus, the intention is to simplify the regulatory environment.
How will this impact individuals?
As well as the right to be forgotten, the law holds provisions that could potentially increase consumers’ rights over their data. But there is a huge grey area about how it will apply in reality. The laws mean that in theory someone could ask social networks like Facebook to delete their profile entirely. Laws relating to freedom of expression will stop “the right to be forgotten” extending to news articles. But there is the potential for individuals to transfer their data from one service to another more easily – which is great news for consumers, making it simpler to swap utilities, insurance or ISPs.
How will this impact my business?
This shake-up of data protection laws is all well and good for individuals, but it could mean huge fines for businesses that don’t comply with the laws. This is because data breaches have become increasingly common in recent years. However, giving citizens back control of their complex personal data is not necessarily easy. Plus working out how to give it back to them and how to ensure it is stored adequately throughout employment and then deleted securely is a bit of a technical and HR minefield.
How much will it cost?
The biggest change to the law is the increase in the amount of money regulators can fine companies who do not comply – up to 4% of their global turnover or 20 million Euros, whichever is greater. This threat is certainly big enough to frighten companies into changing their data dealings. But I’m not in the EU – will it affect my business? GDPR has serious implications for companies in countries outside the EU. So even if you’re based overseas, but hold data belonging to anyone living in Europe, you’re liable. So, in short, if you process data that belongs to individuals living and working within the EU, you will be subject to aspects of the directive.
What should businesses be aware of?
The Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK recently released a set of guidelines to help businesses prepare for GDPR. It also recommends that companies review privacy notices and ensure there is a plan in place that allows them to make any necessary changes to be in compliance with GDPR. However, it’s not too scary potentially as the ICO insists the new measures will contain many of the same principles and concepts as the current Data Protection Act. Which means the companies already successfully abiding by the 1995 legislation will probably be covered. But there are predictions businesses will go on recruitment drives for data protection officers – to ensure they’ve got the right personnel in place.
What are the other potential ramifications?
Once GDPR comes in companies could see more legal challenges from individuals and groups that take up privacy issues on behalf of citizens. But they may also see fewer challenges from individual country regulators, because of a “one-stop shop” clause that would put the onus on the regulator in the country in which the company is headquartered to pursue legal action. Regulators are also being given more powers to intervene if they feel another is being too lenient.
By Urban Schrott
