Understanding GDPR Risk
- Eric
- May 7, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: May 17, 2024
Data protection consultants often overlook a critical aspect of GDPR compliance: the inherent risk faced by the data subjects themselves. At the heart of GDPR lies the imperative to safeguard the rights of individuals, recognizing that consumers lack the same resources as larger organizations to defend against the misuse of their personal data.
Two fundamental principles of the GDPR shouldn't be neglected:
Transparency : Organizations must provide clear, comprehensive, and accurate information about their data processing activities. Transparency builds trust !
User rights : Every individual has the right to access their personal data held by organizations and, where necessary, correct or erase it. Unless legally required to retain data for a certain period, organizations must respond promptly and favorably to such requests.
For those embarking on the journey of data protection compliance, prioritizing these two principles is fundamental. Here's a concise roadmap for starting from scratch:
Map your data processing activities : Document all data processing activities, including the types of data involved and any third-party contractors involved.
Publish your Privacy notice : Make a transparent and comprehensive privacy notice that informs individuals about how their data is processed, including among others purposes, legal bases, retention schedules, ...
Set up a contact channel for user rights requests : Set up an accessible channel through which individuals can exercise their rights under the GDPR, such as requesting access to their data or submitting modification/deletion requests.
While basic mapping can be done using tools like Excel, leveraging dedicated solutions such as dpO can streamline and optimize the maintenance of records, enhancing efficiency and compliance.
By elevating transparency and user rights processes, organizations can significantly mitigate their GDPR risk exposure. Beyond mere compliance, prioritizing these principles fosters a culture of respect for individual privacy and strengthens trust between organizations and individuals.