What Is GDPR and What Does It Mean For You?
What Is GDPR?
GDPR means General Data Protection Regulation. The GDPR is the new data protection rules aimed at standardizing all data protection law in all 28 countries belonging to the EU. GDPR sets new regulations with regard to processing and controlling personally identifiable information (PII). GDPR features an extension of the personal data protection and rights, which return the control to EU inhabitants.
GDPR is to replace the EU Data Protection Directive of 1995 and will become fully operational on May 25, 2018. Besides, it is to supersede the UK Data Protection Act of 1998.
Several vital items are included in the directive such as breach notifications, opt-in consent, increased fines and responsibility for the transfer of data beyond the EU’s jurisdiction. Consequently, the burden of responsibility is much on businesses and the effects will reflect on how they collect, store, and use customers’ data.
The GDPR came about to control and set limitations to the access and freedom that the internet and the cloud gave to organizations to create diverse means of using and abusing people’s data. Another reason is that EU wanted to clarify, standardize, and dictate the modus operandi of the data usage legal environment to organizations and businesses, which is expected to save companies €2.3 billion annually.
What It Means For You
With the GDPR going into full force, the EU residents will have complete control over the way, and manner businesses and organizations use their data.
Organizations and businesses that fail to adhere to the regulations or suffer data breaches will face the consequences, hefty penalties.
It standardizes the data protection regulation across the EU, and as long as you are residing in one of the EU countries, the GDPR will apply to all parties involved in the collection, storing, and using or abusing your data, even if they are outside the EU.
The GDPR gives you more control over your information; in that, you can request to access your data at intervals and the organizations holding your data must comply within a month.
Companies that collect, store, and use your information are mandated by the GDPR to explain in layman’s language to you how they collect your data, what they use your data for, and how they process your data. As a result, you will have full knowledge of what your information is used for and who sees your data. You can request for your information to be corrected if not complete or correct.
