GDPR: No more patchwork of personal data rules

The EU has taken a big leap towards a “Digital Single Market” with it's new personal data protection legislation - but how will this affect you and your business?

After more than 3 years of negotiations, an agreement was reached regarding the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on December 15, 2015. The GDPR - which will enter into force within the coming months and (after a two-year grace period) apply from early 2018 - end the complicated system of national personal data protection rules deriving from the decades-old EU personal data protection directive. As a result, we’re officially one step closer to the ideal digital future of Europe: the “Digital Single Market”.

So far, so good. But what does this actually mean?

In a nutshell: starting from early 2018, the GDPR will be directly applicable in all EU member states. It will replace all national personal data protection legislations within its scope.

The GDPR will give individuals more control of their personal data by modernising and unifying the personal data protection rules across the EU. Not only this, but it will also facilitate businesses’ work to ensure personal data compliance across the EU, building and providing trust in the individuals whose personal data the businesses are processing. Privacy and data protection is and will be a competitive advantage for businesses, and the GDPR will create new economic opportunities and chances for innovation.

We at APSIS welcome the GDPR, and we’re convinced that it will create new opportunities for you who are using our solutions and services. New details and specifics connected to the GDPR will be released during the next two years, so stay tuned for future updates!

Want to read more about the GDPR? Click here to read the European Commission’s press release.