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GDPR on a human scale
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New technology
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), or AVG in Dutch, stipulates that as little information as possible may be stored and that it may only be used for its intended purpose.
Every company is legally required to comply with these regulations, but your reputation is also tied to them. In the event of a data breach, you will suffer a loss of image and potentially even customers. On top of that, you could face a hefty fine. Complying with the regulations also builds trust with the outside world and with your (potential) customers.
Dealing with customer data
You are required to explicitly request permission when using data, and this must be done in writing. This applies to both online data use (e.g., visiting your website) and live events. If you want to capture the atmosphere of your event in images and then share it online, you must ask participants for permission in advance, for example, during registration, and they must be given the option to refuse.
We're all familiar with pop-ups about the use of cookies on a website. Did you know that many websites make mistakes in this regard, in accordance with the GDPR? There should be three options : accept, decline, and customize. All three must be displayed equally clearly, and visitors must be given the option to accept only necessary cookies .
The emails you send shouldn't simply be sent to every contact in your database. If someone signs up to be kept informed of upcoming events, they shouldn't simply receive emails about your latest promotion unless it's announced in advance. You should always be transparent about which mailings someone can receive and how they can unsubscribe.
Additionally, your privacy policy must state with whom the data will be shared and how long it will be retained. Use clear and understandable language to build trust. Also, regularly clean out your CRM database. Often, a lot of data is unlawfully retained for too long.
Be your own Data Protection Officer
We can no longer ignore it: AI is everywhere. However, this doesn't mean it's appropriate to use it in every situation. Did you know that the free version of chatGPT uses your input to help the model learn? It's safer to use the paid version or Copilot. It uses your Microsoft account settings, giving you more protection.
Want to bypass cookies or better protect your data? You can browse incognito . However, this can be weighed against the convenience of automatically filling in your information on some websites.
Tips to better protect your data:
- Check via haveibeenpwned.com whether your data has been leaked.
- A strong password has at least 14 characters or is a phrase.
- Make a distinction between passwords for your work and private passwords.
- Use a password manager to keep track of all your passwords.
- If available, use 2-factor authentication as often as possible.
This article was written based on the webinar 'GDPR simplified for every professional '.
All our blog posts are created in collaboration with our members and partners.
