The EU’s GDPR And How To Best Comply In 2024

In an ever-changing and evolving world of technology, data privacy is a growing concern for governments across the globe. On May 25th, 2018 the European Union (EU) put into effect the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR is considered one of, if not, the strictest data privacy and security law in the world.

Despite being an EU regulation, the GDPR impacts any business operating within the EU. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties, including fines up to 10 million euros ($10,729,500) or 2% of the global turnover from the previous fiscal year, whichever is higher. Given these severe consequences, compliance is necessary. Given these significant consequences, understanding and adhering to the GDPR is essential yet often challenging due to its broad scope and intricate requirements.

A Brief History Of The GDPR

The right to privacy in Europe dates back to before the EU’s formation. In 1950, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) declared, “Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home, and his correspondence.” This declaration came long before the internet and cloud-based technologies existed.

However, the development of the Internet in the 1980s and the rapid advancement of technology have highlighted growing privacy concerns. Issues such as cyber-attacks, which are malicious to damage or gain unauthorized access to a computer network, and phishing scams, fraudulent attempts to attain sensitive information under the reuse of a disguise, can expose personally identifiable information (PII) like names, addresses, social security numbers, and payment information to risks, especially when stored in the Cloud and exchanged between companies, consultants, and clients. In response to these concerns, the European Union began efforts to update the ECHR in 2011.

One significant incident that underscored the need for stricter regulations was the 2011 data breach of Sony’s PlayStation Network. This breach compromised the personal information of approximately 77 million PlayStation accounts and disrupted the use of Sony’s PlayStation online servers. The global impact of this breach highlighted the vulnerabilities in data security and emphasized the necessity of taking data privacy and security more seriously in an increasingly digital world.

During the process of updating the ECHR, it became clear that a more comprehensive and robust framework was needed to address the increasing complexity of data protection in the digital age. This realization paved the way for the development of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR represents a significant evolution in privacy law, extending beyond the provisions of the ECHR to establish detailed requirements for data protection and privacy, ensuring a higher level of security and accountability.

The GDPR requires any organization that does business with EU countries to comply with a list of principles designed to protect consumers. Making an effort to defend the personal data of internet users in the current day and age is crucial, which is why these rules implemented by the EU become more and more important every day. The GDPR not only reinforces individuals’ rights to privacy but also introduces stringent penalties for non-compliance, thus ensuring that organizations prioritize the security and confidentiality of personal data.

The 7 Principles Of Protection And Accountability

The GDPR passing meant there would be new constraints when it came to data collection and protection. To enforce these regulations, 7 core tenets were created to act as guidelines for companies dealing with this information.

1.  The processing of data must be lawful, fair, and transparent to the data subject.
2. The entity must process data for legitimate and specific purposes that are made clear to the data subject.
3. The entity can only collect and process the amount of data that is necessary.
4. All personal data must be accurate and up-to-date.
5. The entity can only be stored for as long as necessary to complete the stated purpose for collection.
6. The data processing must be done in a way that ensures security, integrity, and confidentiality.
7. The entity collecting and storing the data is responsible for GDPR compliance and must be able to demonstrate its ability to comply.

GDPR Compliance And CaseGuard Studio

When thinking about how to comply with these statutes, it is important to consider a redaction solution, as redacting information is the only way to truly keep it secure from those who want to steal or exploit it. CaseGuard Studio offers the ability to automatically redact videos, audio, documents, text, or images for full GDPR compliance. As an all-in-one redaction solution for videos, audio files, documents, emails, and images., CaseGuard Studio operates as a local, on-premise software, ensuring that no data is stored in the cloud. It also supports installation on air-gapped systems, enhancing total data security while meeting the criteria necessary for compliance with Principle 7.

When handling documents and emails, AI Text Analysis can remove (redact) all non-essential, personally identifiable information before being sent to consultants or other companies. This can help minimize data exposure, as defined in Principle 6.

For videos and images where one or even hundreds of objects need to be blurred, there is AI Automatic Detection. With AI Automatic Detection, CaseGuard Studio can automatically detect faces, device screens, license plates, and more.

For audio files that contain PII, trade secrets, or other sensitive information, CaseGuard Studio offers Automatic Transcription and redaction. This feature allows users to transcribe audio files in over 50 different languages, including French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese. Once transcribed, CaseGuard can identify 31 categories of sensitive information for redaction.

For companies with thousands of files to manage, Bulk Redaction is available for all file types. Bulk processing can redact an unlimited number of files at once, saving you time and money when complying with the GDPR.

Along with all of this, CaseGuard Studio has automatically generated reports with fully customizable redaction reasons. These redaction reasons can include local, state, and federal laws that apply to any agency in any jurisdiction.

The Bottom Line

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a critical mandate for any business operating within the EU’s 27 member countries. Compliance is essential to avoid significant fines and penalties. Ensure your business stays compliant with GDPR regulations by investing in CaseGuard Studio’s comprehensive redaction solution. Starting at $99 per month, there is a license type that fits any company’s budget, whether large or small.