The Impact of EU GDPR Implementation on Various Organizations and Industry

Comprehensive data protection laws are critical for ensuring the protection of human rights, most notably the right to privacy, but also many other freedoms that rely on our ability to choose how and with whom we share information about ourselves. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union is one of the most powerful and comprehensive global efforts to regulate the acquisition and use of personal data by governments and the commercial sector. The European Union enacted it in 2016 and it went into force on May 25, 2018, throughout the EU's 28 member states. If it is rigorously implemented and enforced, it will strengthen privacy safeguards in Europe and potentially much beyond.  

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a key piece of legislation that is anticipated to affect a wide range of companies. Let's look at which industries might be the most affected, and how. Almost every industry participates in the processing of personal data in one or more procedures. In addition, GDPR is a collection of guidelines that govern the processing of personal data. As a result, all organizations across industries will need to implement proper procedures, EU GDPR policies, and systems to comply with EU GDPR.

Which industries might be significantly impacted by GDPR?

Although most industries will be affected by GDPR, some will be more severely affected than others. Let's have a look at the items that would make this list.

1. Industries that provide services to individual customers: Processing of personal data on a wide scale is typically done in industries whose primary business is providing services to individual clients. These sectors would comprise the financial services, insurance, retail, etc. To comply with the EU GDPR, each of these businesses would have to make considerable changes.
2. Industries that provide marketing, business, process and system support services: Business, process, and system management services are offered by a large number of organizations. For the benefit of their controllers (with whom they have contracts), each of these businesses will function as data processors. While their controllers must comply with GDPR, processors are likewise required to do so and are subject to the same penalties for noncompliance as their controllers. These businesses will include cloud-based service providers, platform-based service providers, law firms, analytics firms, event management organizations, etc.
3. Automobile industry: Most automakers enjoy gathering and processing personal information about the people who purchase their products. However, these businesses would have to be more open about the data they have, what they do with it, and why if GDPR were to be in effect.

What kind of effects might the GDPR have on various industries?

The following industries would be impacted:

1. Processing of personal data of employees: It is difficult to think of a company without employees; all companies have employees. Additionally, workers are considered data subjects for purposes of the GDPR. Therefore, to process the personal data of their employees, all organizations need to adopt greater accountability and openness.
2. Processing of personal data of sales contacts: It is difficult to picture a business with no customers. An organization exists for the sole purpose of serving its customers. Even when an organization's client is another organization, the contacts are real people. Executing sales contacts, keeping track of their information, etc. are also actions that fall within the category of processing personal data. Therefore, businesses from all sectors would need to make sure that this processing complies with GDPR guidelines.
3. Appointment of a Data Protection Officer: A DPO frequently gets hired by organizations that handle vast amounts of personal data. To comply with GDPR, this must take place across all industries. Undoubtedly, there would be few businesses that merely provide platforms and process very little data. They would more likely decide to have a DPO, though, to show that their platforms conform.