Offering privacy protection to people who use the web in Europe, the GDPR is global in scale because it governs how anyone – from anywhere in the world – can collect and process the personal data of individuals who live in the European Union. Are you in compliance?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the European Union’s powerful data privacy and personal data protection law. Failure to comply with GDPR can result in hefty fines in addition to a loss of brand trust. One of the world’s strongest data privacy regulations, the GDPR took effect in 2018 and continues to be updated.
GDPR requires organizations to perform a number different consumer requests and data handling standards to be considered compliant. Among these are:
Fair processing of personal information:
Data collection and processing must be lawful, fair, and transparent
Legitimate purpose collection:
Personal data may only be collected for legitimate purposes at the specific time it is collected
Appoint a data controller:
A data collector must be appointed who will be responsible for demonstrating full GDPR compliance
Adhere to data collection and storage limitations:
Data minimization (collect only what is necessary) is a core proviso, and data can only be stored as long as needed for the specified purpose
Accuracy:
All data stored must be accurate and up to date
Ensure data security:
All stored data must be safeguarded with proper security, integrity and confidentiality applied
If your website is accessible to anyone in Europe, you need to ensure that it complies with all GDPR privacy rules. And that is not always easy. The laws are complex; they change frequently. One big example is the UK’s own GDPR rules, which replaced the EU GDPR after the UK exited the EU.
While the laws remain almost identical, there are minor changes that could affect compliance. Similarly, ever since the GDPR came into force in 2018, there have been efforts to simplify it and make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to adopt and comply with. While debate and inevitable change continue, your business can still be at risk of non-compliance while trying to figure out exactly how to implement your cookie banners and collect consent.
Ultimately GDPR give consumers a set of actionable data-privacy rights:
Consumers can request personal data collected about them.
Consumers can ask that their data be removed or deleted.
Consumers can refuse data collection for profiling and targeted advertising.
Consumers can direct businesses to restrict the use of their sensitive data.
Consumers can take legal action against businesses if their personal information is exposed.
Cookies are a cornerstone of the GDPR and how consent is obtained and maintained. The cookie consent banner acts as a kind of gateway to websites, offering users a way to opt in or out of having their data collected. GDPR, widely considered to be one of the toughest privacy laws in the world, requires websites to do several things, and cookie consent is the first step:
Obtain informed, specific consent before placing any non-essential cookies
Transparently disclose categories, purposes, and retention periods of personal data
Easily allow users to withdraw consent at any time
Simplifying compliance doesn’t sound like the sexiest thing in the world, but with GDPR penalties that can reach up to 20 million EUR or 4% of a company’s global annual revenue, non-compliance is no joke. GDPR is not something you can afford to ignore.
Right now, in fact, your website is likely collecting personal data from cookies even if you are not aware of it. CookieHub will shine a light on everything you are not seeing and help you stay compliant in the face of regulatory complexity.
Businesses can take a number of steps to help stay in compliance with the GDPR and fulfill general data privacy best practices:
Review data practices:
Conduct a comprehensive audit of your data handling practices, including collection, storage and sharing. Identify where personal data is being used and check that it complies with GDPR requirements.
Implement consent management:
Platforms like CookieHub provide an easy way to manage consumer consent for data processing.
Check partner contracts:
Review third-party service provider contracts to ensure agreements meet GDPR standards for data protection.
Update privacy policies:
Keep your privacy policy up to date and accessible, including detailed information on how data is collected, processed and shared.
Train staff:
Educate employees about GDPR and its implications, and their role in maintaining compliance.
As a recognized leader in cookie and consent management, CookieHub is uniquely positioned to empower website owners around the world to comply with GDPR regulations with ease.
CookieHub was built around the idea that compliance is difficult, complex, and confusing – and not most companies’ core business. Knowing that GDPR puts the onus for compliance on website owners, CookieHub exists to take away the pain of having to figure it all out yourself.
Thousands of website owners globally trust CookieHub every day to uncover hidden website cookies and trackers and to ensure compliance with privacy laws no matter where they originate or where the website is based.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to all organizations that process the personal data of individuals in the European Union (EU), regardless of where the organization is based. This includes businesses outside the EU that offer goods or services to, or monitor the behavior of, EU residents.
Personal data refers to any information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual. This includes names, email addresses, IP addresses, phone numbers, and even data such as location or online identifiers.
Sensitive data—also known as "special categories of personal data"—includes information related to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, genetic and biometric data, health information, and data concerning a person’s sex life or sexual orientation.
Each EU member state has its own supervisory authority responsible for enforcing GDPR. These authorities work together through the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). For example, in Ireland, the regulatory authority is the Data Protection Commission (DPC).
GDPR does not apply to data processing by individuals for purely personal or household activities. It also doesn’t cover data processing for national security, law enforcement, or certain public authority activities outside the scope of EU law.
You can find more information on GDPR from the official European Commission GDPR portal or from your local data protection authority's website. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) also provides guidelines and updates.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general reference purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal or regulatory advice. Data privacy regulations are complex and subject to frequent updates, interpretations, and jurisdictional variations. While efforts are made to keep the material accurate and up to date, we cannot guarantee its completeness or applicability to your specific circumstances. For guidance on compliance or legal obligations, please consult qualified legal professionals or the appropriate regulatory authorities.
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