Now as much as I wish this was a Flo Rida and Sage The Gemini jam, GDPR is a serious issue for businesses in the EU but more importantly to us it will affect U.S. businesses, possibly yours. You will want to familiarize yourself with GDPR; so our SIX team wanted to help you learn everything you need to know.
I like to say (which means I’ve said it once and decided to say it again),
“I’m not selfish. I’m selfull, there is no “ish” about it.
Essentially, I understand it’s in my default programming to think I am the center of the universe. Don’t get me wrong, as a content writer, you do the best job possible for the customer/client. But, at the end the day, I have the attitude if it benefits the client, it will ultimately benefit me.
Many of you business owners know, if you serve the customer, you, hopefully, will prosper.
I say that to say this, we all think, “how will this affect me?”
Keep that in mind when you read this. Because in the end, you may think this doesn’t affect me today; but we’re here to tell you it eventually will.
Because, on May 25th, 2018, the General Data Protection Regulations takes effect.
What is GDPR & How Did It Start?
TEACHABLE MOMENT!
The GDPR is short for the General Data Protection Regulations. Little history how it came about: Back in 2012, the European Commission set out to create data protection reform across the European Union. four years later, the GDPR was presented.
“The digital future of Europe can only be built on trust with solid common standards for data protection, people can be sure they are in control of their personal information”. -Andrus Ansip, VP Digital Sale Market.
The GDPR simplifies the regulatory environment of business so both citizens and businesses in the EU can benefit from the digital world in which we are not only completely in, but also, for a lack of a better word, slaves to. Honestly, if you are a business (and we’ll get to you in a moment) and you offer a good and/or service and are lacking a web presence…
I’m trying real hard to not be cruel right now…
Essentially, the GDPR protects personal data, privacy, and provides the consumer/prospective customer, consent. Every aspect of our lives is available these days, from our birth dates, to social media behavior, to our fondness for French cuisine, and our most troubling fetishes. All of it is obtainable to the right, and more often than not, wrong person.
In a nutshell, the GDPR, protects the consumer in the event of a data breach. By complying to the GDPR, you, the business owner, are ensuring there are limitations to the data you’re obtaining in the case of said data breach, as well as protecting yourself in the case of. However, if there is a breach, you have 72 hours to report it. If not, you face an aggressive fine.
The GDPR is causing businesses who target consumers in the EU to take a proactive approach in protecting the consumers data.
You can read about anything and everything you want to know about the GDPR here:
And deeper detail here:
OKAY, THAT’S ALL GREAT, BUT I’M IN THE UNITED STATES, THIS DOESN’T AFFECT ME, RIGHT?
Imagine you’re a hotel in lets say, Lake George, NY. You know during the summer months the feeding ground that is the Lake George Village will be littered with people from all throughout the world. You know your competitor is marketing themselves all over. So, you decide to specifically create a marketing campaign in London, England.
CONGRATULATIONS! If you now obtain any data on the person you’re targeting, you now could be subjected to the GDPR.
For more information on what he GDPR means for you, United States based companies who do business with those in the European Union, you can read more here.
THE GDPR IS TRANSPARENCY AT ITS FINEST!
With the GDPR being new, you can bet your mortgage on the fact there are going to be issues, mishaps, and situations they couldn’t have fathomed. Pretty much, the situation is fluid.
However, if you are a company with a strong web presence reaching beyond the U.S. borders; it would be negligent to not err on the side of caution.
TRUST US, you do not want to find out what penalties the EU will subject you to, if one of their citizens information is breached from your site.
And for those of you who don’t target customers in the EU, we highly suggest you research this because it’s a matter of time before similar regulations take effect here.
Lastly, if you are still cynical something which originated in the EU will ever take hold in the United States…
Clearly I need to reminder you Jean-Claude Van Damme…
-k
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