20 million reasons you need to know about General Data Protection Regulations

<h3><span style="color:#0092D0;">General Data Protection Regulations</span></h3>

<p>By May 2018, All businesses and organisations will face fines of up to €20 million if they are not compliant with the General Data Protection Regulations – GDPR.</p>

<p>We'll help you understand</p>

<p>Business needs to get ready and is largely unaware of these new laws. Britain has committed to GDPR and is not opting out regardless of BREXIT.</p>

<h3><span style="color:#0092D0;">Introduction to General Data Protection Regulations</span></h3>

<p>This is the first of many new laws to be introduced over the next few years, to curtail the abuse of personal information, content control (similar to the Film Industry PG, U12's, U18’s etc) and the internet itself. Powerful new laws and fines (Up to 4% of T/O or €20 million are the penalties) will seek to enforce control on the internet and the extraordinary abuse of personal information. Company directors will be personally liable as well.</p>

<p>From May 2018 your organisation will not only have to comply with the GDPR,  it will also have to be able to demonstrate compliance.  </p>

<p>Failure to do so, may expose businesses to high fines up to 4% of the annual turnover or €20 million.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">1. Awareness</span></h4>

<p>You should make sure that decision makers and key people in your organisation are aware that the law is changing to the GDPR. They need to appreciate the impact this is likely to have and identify areas that could cause compliance problems under the GDPR. It would be useful to start by looking at your organisation’s risk register, if you have one.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">2. Information you hold</span></h4>

<p>You should document what personal data you hold, where it came from and who you share it with. You may need to organise an information audit across the organisation or within particular business areas.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">3. Communicating privacy information</span></h4>

<p>You should review your current privacy notices and put a plan in place for making any necessary changes in time for GDPR implementation. When you collect personal data you currently have to give people certain information, such as your identity and how you intend to use their information.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">4. Individuals rights</span></h4>

<p>You should check your procedures to ensure they cover all the rights individuals have, including how you would delete personal data or provide data electronically and in a commonly used format.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">5. Subject access requests</span></h4>

<p>You should update your procedures and plan how you will handle requests to take account of the new rules: You should update your procedures and plan how you will handle requests within the new timescales and provide any additional information.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">6. Lawful basis for processing personal data</span></h4>

<p>You should identify the lawful basis for your processing activity in theGDPR, document it and update your privacy notice to explain it. Many organisations will not have thought about their lawful basis for processing personal data.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">7. Consent</span></h4>

<p>You should review how you seek, record and manage consent and whether you need to make any changes. Refresh existing consents now if they don’t meet the GDPR standard.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">8. Children</span></h4>

<p>You should start thinking now about whether you need to put systems in place to verify individual’s ages and to obtain parental or guardian consent for any data processing activity.</p>

<p>For the first time, the GDPR will bring in special protection for children’s personal data, particularly in the context of commercial internet services such as social networking.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">9. Data breaches</span></h4>

<p>You should make sure you have the right procedures in place to detect,report and investigate a personal data breach.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">10. Data protection by design and Data protection impact Assessments</span></h4>

<p>You should familiarise yourself now with the ICO’s code of practice on Privacy Impact Assessments as well as the latest guidance from the Article 29 Working Party, and work out how and when to implement them in your organisation.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">11. Data Protection Officers</span></h4>

<p>You should designate someone to take responsibility for data protection compliance and assess where this role will sit within your organisation’s structure and governance arrangements.</p>

<p>You should consider whether you are required to formally designate a Data Protection Officer (DPO).        </p>

<p>It is most important that someone in your organisation, or an external data protection advisor, takes proper responsibility for your data protection compliance and has the knowledge, support and authority to carry out their role effectively.</p>

<h4><span style="color:#0092D0;">12. International</span></h4>

<p>If your organisation operates in more than one EU member state, you should determine your lead data protection supervisory authority and document this.</p>

<h3><span style="color:#0092D0;">BeSecureOnline – GDPR Speakers UK</span></h3>

<p>BeSecureOnline provides GDPR Speakers to assist that you meet the objectives. <a href="https://www.besecureonline.co.uk/Contact" target="_blank">Contact us</a>, for more information about our internet safety talks.</p>