Staying Safe From GDPR Regulation Fines and Sanctions

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection law that was implemented by the European Union (EU) in 2018. Its main purpose is to protect the personal data of EU citizens and give them greater control over how their data is collected, processed, and stored by organizations. GDPR applies to both EU-based organizations and organizations outside the EU that process the personal data of EU citizens.

Under the GDPR, there are different tiers of fines that can be imposed on organizations for non-compliance. The fines are divided into two categories: lower-tier fines and upper-tier fines. Lower-tier fines can be imposed for less severe violations, while upper-tier fines are reserved for more serious infringements. Lower-tier fines can reach up to €10 million or 2% of the organization’s global annual turnover, whichever is higher.

These fines are typically applicable for violations such as not maintaining proper records, failing to conduct a data protection impact assessment, or not notifying a data breach to the supervisory authority. On the other hand, upper-tier fines can go up to €20 million or 4% of the organization’s global annual turnover, whichever is higher. These fines are imposed for more significant breaches, such as violating the core principles of GDPR, infringing on individuals’ rights, or transferring personal data to a third country without adequate safeguards. It’s important for organizations to ensure they comply with the GDPR requirements to avoid these hefty fines.