Rather than looking at GDPR as a privacy problem You and your team should think about how GDPR can assist your business perform better. This should help you make your internal operations run more smoothly and will ultimately increase customer/client trust.
Data minimization--Collecting and processing only the personal data necessary for specified purposes.
Articles
If you're having trouble getting your head around the recent GDPR law, it may be helpful to understand how they work. The legislation is comprised of 99 Articles that are grouped into 11 Chapters. We've simplified and categorized every one of these Articles below to help you understand their meaning and what effects they could have for your company.
The very first thing you should know is that failing to follow any one law could result in some pretty hefty penalties. These fines could be in the range of EUR20 million or 4 percent of the annual profits of your company (whichever is more).
In addition, some of these Articles also establish rules for data transfers outside of the EU. In general, the rules demand that businesses obtain consent from consumers before transferring their personal information. Information transfer should be limited to what is necessary in order to meet the stated purpose.
Furthermore, Articles 23 and 30 also require organizations implement specific safeguards in order to protect information about consumers from being exposed to unauthorized disclosure as well as loss, access or. It is vital to set up procedures and tests that reduce breaches, and protect the rights of data subjects. It also requires that organizations choose an official Data Protection Officer to manage the process.
Articles 31 and 32 deal with notification of data breaches. Data controllers must notify supervisory authorities within 72 hours after finding any breach of personal data. They are also required to provide the exact details of the way in which data breaches affected the affected individuals.
These articles also mandate the companies to conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments and Data Protection Compliance Reviews before beginning any process. Furthermore, they should make certain that the third-party countries which have a high level of privacy protection are endorsed from the European Commission before transferring any information to them.
The last paragraph has a number 46-55, outlines how EU members will work with each other and set up an European Data Protection Board. In the event of concerns or disagreements regarding the use of data processing by the company, it's the duty of the supervisory authority in that country in which the major establishment or most processing activities of that company takes place.
Blogs
The GDPR compliance should be at the top of every online company or blogger's to-do lists. It is important to have explicit privacy policies, affiliate agreements, as well as terms of service, in place. Additionally, it is recommended that you include consent forms for collecting the personal details of website users as well as subscribers. Additionally, if you already have an email address list for EU residents, it is essential to get their express and complete consent before including them in your email database.
Though this can sound overwhelming but there are actions you can follow to help make this process simpler. Create a list with all of the software you use currently to collect information. Then, check to see whether they're GDPR-compliant. This includes plugins, software and analytics. Consider changing to something that is.
You can also use an application like iubenda to design the GDPR-compliant forms as well as privacy policies for your blog or website. In general, GDPR requires the site owner to clearly state what your purpose for processing personal data. You should also provide checkboxes to allow the customers to explicitly consent to each type of processing (e.g. one checkbox to agree to being added to your mailing list as well as another one for processing data in connection with their purchase). It's recommended to work with an expert in this particular field for you to be sure that you aren't missing all important actions!
Double opt-in is another important topic for bloggers. There is a need to confirm the EU readers. This will prevent turning off readers or even having them abandon your website.
Numerous websites have added a popup message asking visitors to accept cookies and privacy policies as soon as they arrive at the site. The message may sound annoying but it's necessary to comply with GDPR.
In addition to ensuring your site and blog are safe, it's an excellent idea to ramp up security for your social media accounts. It will help you ensure your audience's safety however, but will make them feel a sense of trust and confidence in you as a person, and also a business.
Social Media
Businesses are increasingly using social media to interact with clients and customers. The tools they use must adhere https://www.gdpr-advisor.com/personal-data/ to GDPR because they work with the personal information of customers. It does not mean it is impossible to utilize these platforms, however it may be wiser to create a plan of action to guarantee compliance.
As per the GDPR regulations, it is illegal to store or release personal information on EU citizens without consent. This applies to any data that can be used to determine a person's identity like addresses, names, or telephone numbers. The same applies to information collected from interactions with online platforms, for example, web browser cookie and Facebook tracking pixels. Additionally, it requires companies to provide a legal basis to use the data they gather.
There are six possible legal bases for using personal data, including consent, contracts, general interest, legal obligation, legitimate interest vital interests, and legitimate interest. Based on the company you work for, some of these may be more important than other. If you intend to make use of the information in social media channels for targeting advertising, for example it is necessary to create an opt-in form that has a clear and visible opt-in that explicitly asks permission. Also, you must define the need for collecting data, and what the data will be used to serve. Pre-checked box are not allowed to be used anymore. Users must be actively acquiescing to consent to the collection of their data.
In addition, it is crucial to have a system that allow customers to have the ability to request deletions or modifications of their personal information. Your company will save time as well as costs, as well as build good relationships with your customers.
The initial step in preparing for GDPR compliance is to examine the entirety of the information that your business holds to determine the sensitive information. This will enable you to improve the organization of your data storage and minimize the amount of data that you've got. This is a daunting undertaking, however it will help you improve the manner in which your company processes and stores its data. This will make it more simple for you to reply any questions from customers.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is a powerful tool for building brand awareness and engaging with your customers. However, it comes with the rules and regulations which must be adhered to in order to assure GDPR compliance. The GDPR regulations are not only designed to protect individuals' privacy, however, they help companies build trust with their consumers. GDPR is a broad European privacy law in effect since 25 May 2018. Regulations require companies to improve their handling of the personal information of their customers and comply with the new guidelines. It means incorporating privacy settings to your website and online products, developing a better process for obtaining consent as well as improving how you communicate with customers about their data.
The GDPR needs consent before collecting or using an individual's personal data. The individual can revoke this permission at any point, and request that their data be destroyed. That's why it's essential for marketers to have an effective opt-in procedure for their list of email subscribers, which means that subscribers must first submit their email address through the landing pages or your website and then confirm their subscription through an automated email. This straightforward process can be a fantastic way to demonstrate your company's commitment to privacy and GDPR compliance by utilizing email marketing.
Alongside requiring explicit authorization for the use of data from an individual The GDPR also requires companies to document this consent. It is important that businesses keep track of when an individual consented and in what way. Examine your existing email database and remove any contacts who weren't granted permission.
Make sure that all employees are aware of the GDPR's rules and the significance. Numerous organizations are in the process of establishing new guidelines to help enforce the GDPR regulations, and also to ensure that all employees understand how they must deal with personal data. Certain companies offer rewards or sanctions for compliance with GDPR regulations. As an example, a poll of Veritas Technologies showed that 47% of the respondents will add a requirement for employees to follow GDPR policies to their employment contracts. They will also deprive bonuses or rewards to people who aren't in compliance with.