The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union regulation that governs the protection of personal data and the privacy of citizens within the EU. It establishes uniform data protection standards for businesses and organisations that process personal data.
The aim of the GDPR is to ensure transparency, security and control over the use of personal data, whilst at the same time strengthening trust in digital products and services.
Examples of personal data include:
- Names and contact details
- Email addresses
- Location data
- IP addresses
- Customer data and user profiles
Under the GDPR, organisations must, amongst other things:
- Processing data lawfully and transparently
- obtain users’ consent where necessary
- Protecting and securing personal data
- Safeguarding the rights of those affected
- Documenting and reporting data breaches
The GDPR helps with this:
- to protect users’ privacy
- Building trust with customers
- to reduce legal risks
- to establish transparent data processes
- to establish uniform standards within the EU
For businesses, and particularly for start-ups, compliance with the GDPR is a key component of a professional and scalable business model. Breaches can not only result in heavy fines, but also undermine the trust of customers and investors.
innoWerft helps start-up founders to take data protection requirements into account at an early stage, to develop digital business models that comply with the GDPR, and to balance regulatory requirements with innovation and growth.