Become GDPR aware

What is GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation, aka GDPR, is really important data privacy and compliance legislation that you need to learn about. The aim of the GDPR is to protect all EU citizens from privacy and data breaches in an increasingly data-driven world that is vastly different from the time in which the last directive was established.

This new legislation is relevant to anyone who has day to day responsibility relating to data protection, anyone who controls or processes data and anyone who deals with online personal data.

Data protection

Due to our shift in focus to digitization, it means that individuals personal data is at greater risk of being stolen and this is lucrative info for many. Without strict data laws, there is nothing stopping your personal data being misused and stored in places you wouldn't want it to be.

The EU has finally seen that introducing this legislation will lead to a safer digital environment. In short, contractual changes, organizational changes, changes to processes and technology are all coming. It puts a whole new demand on those handling data. Lauded as being one of the most important changes in data privacy regulation in 20 years it will directly affect how we run political campaigns.

Politics and campaigning, really?

In order to hold any information about a voter, you will now need to have a confirmed opt-in from that person. Imagine having to go to a voter face-to-face (another reason to get good at canvassing btw), get an e-signature from that person saying they are allowing you to use their data and securing an email address so you can follow up and remind them about what they just agreed to. A whole load of new work isn't it?

It took nearly 5 years for this piece of legislation passed by the EU and they have given us over a year to make sure we can comply with the regulations. Check out our infographic below to get to the nitty gritty of it all.

You can also catch up with Brendan Finucane's piece on Epolitics exploring the issue a little further.

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