I’m sure that a number of you knows about the EU’s new consumer data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which went in to effect on May 25, 2018.
With this regulation now in place, all businesses that handle personal data about EU citizens are required to follow strict guidelines for the collections, use and protection of that data. Not only that, businesses have to give consumers the opinion to request erasure and opt out of profiling.
With GDPR, it’s a move in the right direction, as consumers are more nervous than ever about how data is collected and used by businesses. Given the potential consequences of your personal data in the wrong hands, the wary feelings are justified. These businesses should be held to a higher standard.
If you’re an email marketer, the GDPR can have an impact on your everyday job, regardless of where you are in the world. There was a recent study that found that 85 percent of businesses understand the severity of the regulation and have a plan in place to ensure compliance. Out of that percentage, 73 percent have started executing on that plan. Despite having plans in place, 83 percent say they do not feel confident they’d meet the May 25 deadline. Luckily, they’ll have 30 days to complete that erasure request.