General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) replaces all existing data protection regulation and applies to all companies in the EU. A free seminar will be held in Liverpool on the issue in the coming weeks. Tony McDonough reports

New laws on data privacy come into force on May 25 and are set to be the biggest change in regulations around the handling of personal data in decades.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) replaces all existing data protection regulation and applies to all companies in the EU, no matter how small, that process and hold personal data.

Personal data is defined as any information from which a person can be identified, either directly or indirectly, and includes a name, email address, bank details, photo, medical information or computer IP address. 

Clear format

One of the main issues is around consent. Companies and organisations must provide clear requests for consent in a format that is easily understood and accessible. Individuals must find it as easy to withdraw their content as it was to give it and things such as re-ticked boxes or ‘tick to opt-out’ boxes will no longer be acceptable.

Free event

Two Liverpool businesses – leading accountancy firm BWM and fast-growing digital marketing business, Verb Marketing, are both taking steps to get the message out to as many people as possible.

BWM this week hosted a packed seminar at its Castle Street offices. Those in attendance, which included entrepreneurs and charity trustees, heard from three speakers – lawyer Michael Sandys, a partner at Guy Williams Layton Solicitors, Nick Holden, MD of consultancy Nexus Protection Services, and James Dunningham, a director at communications agency Kenyons.

Mr Sandys says this was the biggest upheaval in data protection since 1998. He added: “There is a duty on all of us to protect our data… and there is now a much higher standard of consent.”

Mr Holden told the audience there was a new penalty regime, but added: “The biggest risk is reputational. Clients, or in the case of charities, donors, who are risk averse may not want to deal with you if you cannot demonstrate your compliance with GDPR.”

Not ready

Verb says there is concern that too many businesses will not be ready or may even mistakenly believe it does not affect them. The firm is holding a free seminar in Liverpool on Thursday, April 26, entitled How will GDPR affect your marketing in 2018 and beyond?.

This will cover the key aspects of GDPR compliance. The firm recommends businesses carry out a data audit as there may be data they hold that they are not aware of.

Verb’s head of digital marketing, Tristan Folkard, said: “The deadline for the new GDPR guidelines is May 25. For anyone who thinks that’s far away, it’s less than 100 days. 

“Your privacy policy needs to be simple, easy to understand and specific to the consumer. If you think there’s any room for misinterpretation, now is the time to set things straight.

“There’s quite a bit of scaremongering going on in relation to GDPR but as long as you are properly prepared then there is nothing to worry about.”

To book a place at the event click here.