As you grow your business with an online presence, it is important to understand the recent laws in Europe that could affect you. The European Union (EU) has adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to give European citizens more control over their personal information shared online. Even though you may have a physical site in Atlanta, the GDPR impacts you if EU citizens can buy products or services from your website.
Whether you represent a private business processing data from Europe or a government site, such as a state university that enrolls EU students, speak with a knowledgeable attorney at Sparks Law. An Atlanta GDPR compliance lawyer can help ensure you are following the rules.
Atlanta businesses that collect data from EU residents should consult a seasoned attorney at our firm about implementing a GDPR checklist. This could include actions such as:
A GDPR compliance attorney in our office could help an Atlanta business avoid confrontations with EU regulatory agencies.
The GDPR provides a comprehensive definition of personal data, and there are several factors in distinguishing personal information. The data must define and identify a natural person, meaning a living human being rather than a company or entity. Certain types of businesses may be required to take additional precautions when collecting personal data, which a seasoned GDPR attorney at Sparks Law could further explain.
When the GDPR refers to “any personal information,” it refers to both indisputable facts and opinions about a person. Facts are objective and include, for instance, name, address, age, gender, registered political affiliation, marital status, and place of employment. Opinions are subjective and could be interpreted from social media posts, consumer opinion polls, or employment evaluations. Personal information can also include photos, recordings, or videos.
Any information that can identify a person, even if incorrect, is considered personal data by the GDPR rules. For instance, a natural person who inputs the wrong age might still be identified. They can also be identified from collected data in which their name is misspelled. A local attorney experienced in GDPR compliance laws could review a client’s EU data and note any personal information being collected.
The focal point for GDPR is information that identifies a person and excludes other persons. Names and addresses are obvious identifiers, but other information that excludes some people can be considered personal. For example, marital status alone cannot identify a person, but it can with additional information. These indicators could point to specific persons and therefore be considered personal information.
With e-commerce booming, a viable way to expand your customer or client base is to build a website that is accessible outside of the United States. If you attract European Union customers who input personal information on your site, you need to be aware of the relevant laws and protections.
Call Sparks Law to learn more about how European Union laws affect your ability to collect personal data from its residents. A GDPR compliance lawyer could review your website and suggest actions that solidify your legal presence overseas.
