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If you are new to the world of online privacy, you may wonder what is the GDPR for the US. Many of the best websites and online retailers, after all, have adopted some practices that impact consumer privacy, which is where the GDPR and its consumer protections come into play. So what is the GDPR, how does it impact US-based customers, and what are some tips to fully utilize these regulations? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Before learning about personal information within the GDPR, it is helpful to understand the GDPR itself. The General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, is a suite of consumer privacy laws developed for residents of the European Union (EU.) These rulings pertain to information about natural persons within the region, so anonymous accounts are not protected by this law, though it pertains to GDPR employee data. Additionally, it pertains to GDPR-sensitive personal data.
Insider Tip
Contact your local political representatives if you live in one of the other 47 states and worry about online privacy.
Many of the regulations within the GDPR are mirrored in America via state regulations if you are wondering about a “do not sell” CCPA order.
There is no GDPR equivalent for the entire US market, though certain states have their own versions that provide many of the same benefits to consumers. However, there is nothing on the federal level, though there has been much discussion in recent years regarding the nationwide implementation of these regulations.
Here are some of the statewide mandates in play to help modern consumers.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) applies to consumers who are California residents and offers significant protections, such as mandating that companies delete personal information upon request and dictating which information can and cannot be shared with third parties. Companies have 45 days to respond to deletion requests as indicated by the CCPA as long as the request was issued by a verified citizen of the state.
STAT: The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) back in May 2018 set a high bar in privacy protection for individuals within EU member states. (source)
Both Virginia and Colorado have laws on the books that were inspired by the CCPA. As such, they mandate that companies clearly indicate when and how information is collected and dispersed and allow users to issue deletion requests. These statutes are considered slightly less robust than California’s CCPA, but they are certainly better than nothing.
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