GDPR - Questions & answers about the new General Data Protection Regulation

On May 25, 2018, the EU GDPR comes into force.
With the new General Data Protection Regulation, non-compliance may result in fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual turnover.

To save you from this situation, we answer the 5 most important questions about the GDPR 2018.

Please note that this is an editorial contribution and not legal advice.
For more information, you can visit the GDPR website (https://dsgvo-gesetz.de/kapitel-1/).

Avoiding fines - Questions & answers about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

1) What is the GDPR?

Basically, the new General Data Protection Regulation regulates the handling of personal data by companies across Europe.
As a result, the current BDSG regulation (Federal Data Protection Act) loses validity in many areas.

2) What is the aim of the GDPR?

So far, there have been different data protection laws and therefore different standards within the EU.
Thanks to the GDPR, entrepreneurs will be able to rely on uniform regulations in the future.
In addition, the new regulation is intended to protect user data better than has been the case so far. This is to be insured through significantly higher fines for data protection offenses.
Furthermore, companies outside the EU are also affected by the regulation if they process data from customers from the EU. Accordingly, the GDPR also applies to cloud services and social networks from the USA.

3) Does the new General Data Protection Regulation GDPR affect me?

“The GDPR only affects shops and really large companies... I have nothing to do with it.” This way of thinking can end fatally. (Minor offenses are punished with fines of €10 million.)
The new General Data Protection Regulation affects EVERY company with a presence on the Internet. Regardless of whether it is user tracking (e.g. with Google Analytics), customer data, advertising on Facebook, newsletters, cookies or your own privacy policy... All of these areas fall under the new law.

In other words, anyone who operates a website that is not purely private must also act.

In addition, people who offer free WiFi are also affected by the General Data Protection Regulation.

4) What is changing? The most important new regulations at a glance!

• BDSG becomes GDPR
• Users' individual rights are strengthened
• Fines rise drastically

Stronger user and consumer rights

Users have, among other things, the right to data portability. This means that they can request the transfer of their personal data from one person responsible to another.
Users also have the following rights:

• “Right to be forgotten” of user data
• Explicit consent required to contact you
• Information about the location and duration of data storage

Territorial scope:

In addition, it also follows from the new General Data Protection Regulation that data processors outside the EU can be held accountable.
It doesn't matter where the data is processed. As soon as user data from the EU is processed, the new regulation applies.

Notification obligation in case of violations:

In addition, the person responsible must inform the person concerned within 72 hours of discovering a data breach.

Obligation to keep a register of all data processing activities

Accountability: The person responsible must ensure that all measures are complied with

Significantly higher fines in case of infringements (from 10 million €)

Appointment of a data protection officer for companies whose activities require special control in accordance with Art. 35 et seq. of the GDPR

Conclusion:

The EU's new General Data Protection Regulation has rightly created a need for much discussion in the world of website operators.
However, it is not yet too late to take action. More information on the General Data Protection Regulation before the start on May 25, 2018 can also be found here.

In the following, the use of legally secure Internet will now be even more important in the area of guest WLAN.
In any case, both providers and users of the free WLAN are protected by Socialwave.

Accordingly, our customers offer their guests fast & legally secure Internet and also benefit from marketing opportunities.

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