Small businesses need sufficient understanding of new EU data protection legislation
Fears have arisen that small businesses could be the first to lose out from new European data protection legislation unless sufficient compliance capacity to properly scrutinise how the new measures may effect them is put in place.
In response to a vote to be held by the European Parlaiment’s Civil Liberties committee this week, lead negotiator Timothy Kirkhope warned that while new measures are an improvement to previous data protection laws, legislators need to clarify how small business will be impacted.
big multinationals have vast compliance departments for unravelling what this law means for them, said Kirkhope. Now we need for the European Commission to be clear in how it implements the law so that smaller businesses are clear on how this law will affect them, and how they can prepare for it.
Agreed informally on 15 December and backed by MEPs several days later, the new legislation will create an EU-wide uniform set of rules designed to improve legal certainty, for businesses and citizens alike, surrounding the distribution and use of digital data.
“What has come out of the process is a significant improvement on previous proposals, added Kirkhope. “If the European Commission implements this law correctly then it should bring real benefits to how people can take control over their data. If they mishandle the implementation, it will become a burden for businesses.”
Fred Heritage was previously deputy editor at Business Advice. He has a BA in politics and international relations from the University of Kent and an MA in international conflict from Kings College London.
Three thousand entrepreneurs have signed up in support of Leave.eu, a group in favour of the UK leaving the EU, citing red tape, foreign competition and immigration as their primary reasons for favouring a Brexit. more»
The EU commissioner for financial services, Lord Hill has outlined a range of proposals in an aim to cut back European regulations and help boost investment. He acknowledged that red tape is hindering small businesses from accessing finance necessary for growth. more»
Some 83 per cent of UK consumers do not trust businesses to protect their data and want firms to highlight what is being done to protect personal information, according to new research by the Institute of Customer Service. more»