What the Fork is GDPR and Why is Everyone Freaking out?
What the Fork is GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a piece of European Union legislation which passed in April 2016. European authorities had given companies two years to comply with it until it came into full force last Friday, March 29, 2019. It replaces a previous law called the Data Protection Directive and is aimed at harmonizing rules across the 28-nation EU bloc.
The purpose of GDPR is to give consumers control of their personal data collected by companies such as Google, Twitter and Facebook.
What are the key policies?
More restrictive on consumer data agreements
For children under 16, a person holding "parental responsibility" must opt in to data collection on their behalf.
Consumers will have more control over user data
A major key policy in GDPR is to be more restrictive on consumer data agreements. This means, companies will be unable to use vague statements in order to have consumers agree to give them their private data.
For children under 16, a person holding "parental responsibility" must opt in to data collection on their behalf.
Additionally, the legislation will make it mandatory for companies to notify their data protection authority about a data breach within 72 hours of first becoming aware of it. The processor of the data will need to notify customers "without undue delay" after learning of the breach, according to an EU document.
When it comes to user data, consumers will have more control. You will be able to access the personal data being stored by companies and find out where and for what purpose it is being used. You will also have the right to be forgotten. This means you can ask whoever is controlling your data to erase it and potentially stop third parties processing it. Another provision allows people to take their data and transfer it to a different service provider.
Are there punishments for breaking the rules?
An organization in breach of GDPR laws will be fined up to 4 percent of annual global turnover or 20 million euros ($24.6 million), whichever is bigger.
Some of the biggest technology companies are making billions in turnover every year so this could be a big hit if they were to breach any rules.
