New data protection laws were introduced in Europe in 2018. GDPR was launched to protect consumers, providing strict regulations on how data could be collected, stored, and used by companies. However, these new harsher laws may have been a shock to most of Europe, but to Germany, they were nothing new.
The country has long had a reputation for its strict data privacy laws. Here, we’ll look at exactly how strict data protection is in Germany and the different types of data laws that affect businesses in the country.
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Why Germany is considered the home of data protection
Germany has had strict data protection laws in place for decades now. The country sees the personal data of its citizens as a responsibility of the state, unlike other countries such as the US.
A study published by the Harvard Business Review shows no other country is more sensitive toward data protection. This is said to be linked to the level of innovation within Germany, with new technologies, mobile devices, and cloud communications highlighting the importance of data protection. When questioned, 86% of Germans trust their personal information with doctors, 73% trust their bank, but just 27% trust Facebook.
What are the key data privacy laws in Germany?
There are a number of key data privacy laws in place in Germany. These include:
- Data Protection Officers
- Employee protection
- Data security and data breach
If companies have at least 10 employees who work within automated data processing, a data protection officer is legally required. In terms of employee protection, companies are only able to process the personal data of their workers if it is necessary for the worker-employer relationship. Employees can also only be monitored if there is evidence to suggest they are carrying out criminal offenses.
Additionally, data security and data breach laws are set to become tougher in Germany. All companies must ensure they process and collect data in a way that safeguards against unlawful processing. So, they must invest heavily in security and safeguarding policies.
How are companies protecting themselves?
There are a lot of ways companies are protecting themselves against the strict data protection laws in Germany. One of which is investing in data loggers from RS Components. These clever devices capture data in a secure way.
Other steps companies are taking, include investing in the latest security software and ensuring they are clued up on the latest GDPR rules.
Overall, Germany has always had strict data protection laws. The changes to GDPR didn’t really change much in the country, they simply complimented the laws that were already in place.
