This month marks the first birthday of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and while the business-demolishing catastrophe predicted by some did not occur, we have seen some substantial fines levied and awareness as a whole has increased. Here at SO Legal we helped many clients prepare for 25th May 2018, but we also observed a lot of businesses still unprepared for the regime of new rules. Read more of Adele Field’s Legal Update…
Cases reported to authorities across the EU since last May have been in the hundreds of thousands, with some reports showing the UK as having the highest number of complaints raised. This means that clients and customers are taking protection of their personal data seriously, and with the potential for such large fines, few businesses can afford to ignore data protection any longer.
For regulators across the EU, this first 12 months will have seen many ‘finding their feet’ and getting to grips with how enforcement will work in practice. But with the teething having passed, along with the global shift in attitudes toward data protection, many have predicted that the next 12 months will show how much bite the new rules really have.
Fines aside, there is arguably a more significant risk to businesses from GDPR than that of financial penalty, namely that of reputational damage. The high level of complaints raised thus far clearly shows that customers and clients are aware that organisations have to take care of their data. Logically therefore, where a data breach could have been avoided, these individuals are unlikely to be sympathetic, particularly if your main competitor has taken data protection seriously and acted accordingly. The damage to your brand if it is revealed that your company has not been complying with the new law could be more fatal than the fine itself.
If you haven’t come to terms with the new GDPR legislation, there is no need to despair. There are numerous businesses out there that are yet to tackle their mountain of existing customer data or draft a privacy policy for their employees. There is, however, no time like the present to start on the right track.
So, while it is clearly essential that businesses cannot afford to delay this, here at SO Legal we prefer solutions over panic.
We can take care of everything from your data audit, to your privacy notice, to your data sharing agreements. So rather than burying your head in the sand any further give us a call on 01323 407 555 and we can relieve your data protection headache.
For more information about GDPR and Regulatory Support or for a no-obligation discussion with our Commercial Team, contact 01323 407555 or email enquiries@solegal.co.uk
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