The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been making waves in the business world since its implementation in May 2018. It has introduced significant changes to how businesses handle and process personal data, leading to a significant GDPR impact on data protection. This article will delve into the impact of GDPR and how it affects businesses and individuals alike.
What is GDPR?
The GDPR is a regulation enacted by the European Union (EU) to protect the privacy of its citizens. It is designed to give individuals more control over their personal data and to ensure that companies handle this data responsibly. The GDPR applies to all companies that process the personal data of individuals residing in the EU, regardless of the company's location.
The GDPR Impact on Data Protection
The GDPR has had a profound impact on data protection, changing how businesses collect, store, and use personal data. Here are some key areas where the GDPR impact has been felt:
Increased Individual Rights
The GDPR has enhanced the rights of individuals, providing them with more control over their personal data. They now have the right to access their data, correct inaccuracies, erase their data, restrict and object to processing, and obtain their data for reuse elsewhere (data portability).
Stricter Consent Requirements
Under GDPR, businesses must obtain clear and explicit consent from individuals before collecting and processing their data. This has led to changes in how businesses seek, obtain, and record consent.
Enhanced Data Protection Measures
The GDPR requires businesses to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data. This includes conducting a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for high-risk data processing activities.
Increased Penalties for Non-Compliance
Non-compliance with the GDPR can lead to hefty fines, up to 4% of the company's global annual turnover or €20 million, whichever is higher. This has resulted in businesses taking data protection more seriously.
GDPR Impact on Businesses
The impact of GDPR on businesses has been extensive, requiring them to review and revise their data protection policies and procedures. Here are a few ways in which businesses have been affected:
Increased Data Protection Responsibilities
Businesses are now more accountable for the personal data they handle. They must demonstrate compliance with GDPR principles, such as lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, and confidentiality.
Changes to Data Breach Notification Procedures
The GDPR has introduced a mandatory 72-hour data breach notification requirement. Businesses must report certain types of data breaches to the relevant supervisory authority within this time frame, and in some cases, to the individuals affected.
Greater Need for Data Protection Officers (DPOs)
Many organisations are now required to appoint a DPO to oversee their data protection activities and ensure compliance with the GDPR. This is particularly the case for public authorities, organisations that engage in large scale systematic monitoring, or organisations that process special categories of data on a large scale.
How CleanSlate Can Help
Meeting the GDPR's data protection requirements can be a daunting task. However, tools like CleanSlate can help businesses navigate this complex landscape. CleanSlate is an application that provides a robust framework for data protection, ensuring that businesses comply with GDPR requirements while making the process more manageable.
FAQs
What are the key principles of GDPR?
The GDPR is based on seven key principles: lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity and confidentiality, and accountability.
What constitutes personal data under GDPR?
Personal data refers to any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified in particular by reference to an identifier. This includes name, identification number, location data, online identifier or one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
What are the penalties for non-compliance with GDPR?
Companies that do not comply with the GDPR could face heavy fines up to €20 million, or 4% of the firm’s worldwide annual revenue from the preceding financial year, whichever amount is higher.
