Here’s Everything You Need to Know about GDPR as an App Owner

Building an app isn’t an easy task in itself, but once you are done with it, your work isn’t finished. There comes another essential step to keep a note of and that is making sure your application is built according to the GDPR.

GDPR, General Data Protection Regulation is the significant new data protection regulation. It came into effect on 25th May 2018, and along with its enforcement, all businesses must prove data consent from their users. But what exactly is GDPR or General Data Protection Regulation?

Well, GDPR is a regulation that is passed by the European law authorities to secure consumer data protection and privacy. The General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR (EU) 2016/679 is a regulation in the EU law on data protection and privacy. It aims to give explicit control over personal data to its subjects as in the businesses or Mobile app development companies.

But is your website & mobile app ready for GDPR?

Currently, GDPR is only directed towards the citizens of EU, and it includes users in limited regions such as Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. But this regulation is set to have a global impact on organizations worldwide, soon. Especially if you are a business or a mobile app development company, who process personal data of users of your respective country, you should have an in-depth knowledge of GDPR and start working on an action plan to meet the requirements.

Here are all the things that you need to know about as a Mobile app development company or a business, to be prepared for GDPR and its implementation.

• Consent

According to the GDPR legislation, all businesses and apps must request approval to collect and use the personal data of the users. Apart from asking users or readers for permission, make sure that the consent is secured unambiguously and legibly. It should be confusing. Also, make sure to add a reminder to the users so that they are allowed to rescind their consent as quickly as they wish to.

• Right to Data Erasure

According to GDPR, the users are to be given the power to erase their data from any application or website. Under this particular right, people are allowed to stop mobile app developers from using their personal and private data. This also gives them the permission to any future use of the user’s data.

• Mandatory notifications in case of a data breach.

In case, there is a data breach or an unforeseen event, you as a business or a company are required to inform the users about it in 72 hours. If not done, you shall not be eligible for the GDPR regulations because a data breach is a security threat to users personal data.

• Make sure your website; application design is privacy-centric

In case you are starting with a new application and wish to launch it on a larger scale, it is now mandatory for you to make sure your design is privacy-centric. To keep a note of that, make sure that proper encryption and data handling procedures are a highlight of your entire application development lifecycle.

• Hire Data Protection Officers

A data protection officer is responsible for managing data protection related issues. According to GDPR, hiring a data protection officer will stand you a chance to be fair as data protection officers manage all the sensitive data keeping in mind the legalities.

• GDPR will not kill your app or its market.

Reading about it you might think, GDPR is pretty rigid and that it might as well, bring your business down but trust us, following the right rules and GDPR policies, your app will benefit greatly. GDPR can open doors to great marketing opportunities for you.

You will be surprised to know that according to research by W8data, only 25% of the organizations are ready to meet the GDPR requirements concerning the customer data and privacy issues. So, if you are not prepared to comply with the GDPR requirements, do it now. Gaining trust with the customers, app users and readers is an essential way to market yourself better.