Global Impacts of the GDPR

The GDPR has redefined data privacy expectations globally, setting a high bar for compliance and enforcement.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), implemented by the European Union in 2018, has had profound effects beyond the EU’s borders. This webinar from Security Compass explores the regulation’s origins, its key elements, how organizations can achieve compliance, and the broader global privacy landscape influenced by the GDPR.

What Are the Goals and Scope of the GDPR?

The GDPR aims to empower individuals with control over their personal data and standardize data protection across the EU.

  • Provides individuals with transparency and control over their data

  • Unifies privacy regulations across EU member states

  • Applies globally to businesses offering goods/services to or monitoring EU residents

  • Non-compliance penalties can reach €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover

Key Elements of the GDPR

Core principles of the GDPR include consent, transparency, data subject rights, and privacy by design.

Consent

Valid consent under GDPR must be clear, specific, informed, and freely given.

  • No pre-checked boxes or bundled consent

  • Applies to cookies, tracking pixels, and marketing communications

  • Must allow easy withdrawal of consent

Transparency

Businesses must clearly disclose how personal data is collected, used, and shared.

  • Privacy notices must be simple, timely, and accessible

  • Must inform users about their data rights

  • Requires notification when data is collected indirectly

Data Subject Rights

The GDPR grants individuals eight fundamental rights related to their personal data.

Right Description
Right to be informed Clear notice about data processing
Right of access Obtain personal data held by a business
Right to rectification Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
Right to erasure Also called “right to be forgotten”
Right to restrict processing Temporarily limit processing under specific circumstances
Right to data portability Receive and transfer data between services
Right to object Object to processing for marketing or based on legitimate interests
Rights related to profiling Avoid decisions made solely by automated processing

Privacy by Design

GDPR requires data protection to be embedded in system and process design from the outset.

  • Mandates technical and organizational safeguards

  • Includes encryption, pseudonymization, and access controls

  • Limits data transfers outside the EU unless safeguards are in place

Steps Toward GDPR Compliance

Effective compliance begins with governance, data mapping, and building privacy into every stage of the lifecycle.

  • Update privacy policies: Align internal and external policies with GDPR standards

  • Map personal data: Understand where personal data resides and how it’s processed

  • Obtain appropriate consent: Especially important for sensitive or new processing activities

  • Enable user rights: Implement mechanisms for access, deletion, and portability

  • Assign a Data Protection Officer (DPO): Required for many larger organizations

  • Implement Privacy by Design: Integrate controls from the start of development

Is GDPR Enforcement Effective?

Despite varying enforcement by EU member states, the GDPR is driving better privacy practices globally.

  • Fines up to €20 million or 4% of turnover are enforced by Data Protection Authorities (DPAs)

  • DPAs have investigatory powers and can issue sanctions, audits, and corrective actions

  • Over 160,000 breach reports have been filed since 2018

  • Enforcement impacts small and mid-sized businesses more severely than tech giants

Example Fines

Organization Reason for Fine Fine Amount
Google (France) Lack of transparency in privacy terms €50 million
British Airways Breach affecting 500,000 customers £183 million (proposed)

Global Privacy Trends Inspired by the GDPR

The GDPR has influenced privacy regulations globally, including in California and within the EU itself.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

The CCPA mirrors several GDPR concepts but has key differences.

Feature GDPR CCPA
Consent Required Yes (opt-in) No (opt-out, except for children’s data)
Data Access & Deletion Included Included
Rectification Right Yes No
Right to Object/Profiling Yes No
Penalties Up to 4% of global revenue $7,500 per violation

EU ePrivacy Regulation

An upcoming regulation expanding GDPR principles to electronic communications.

  • Covers all digital communication: messaging apps, cookies, tracking technologies

  • Requires clear consent for tracking and marketing

  • Delayed due to disagreement on key terms, but expected to be enforced soon

Tools to Help with GDPR Compliance

SD Elements supports GDPR by integrating privacy controls into the development lifecycle.

  • Offers secure development requirements aligned with GDPR

  • Helps implement consent mechanisms, privacy notices, and data protection controls

  • Embeds Privacy by Design into software projects from the start

Final Thoughts

The GDPR has elevated the importance of privacy globally and continues to influence how organizations handle data.

Compliance requires thoughtful strategy, cross-functional coordination, and ongoing adaptation to new guidance. Whether you’re operating within or outside the EU, aligning your privacy practices with the GDPR is increasingly a global necessity.