Since 25.05.2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For the first time, there are uniform regulations across Europe on how companies are allowed to handle personal data. How consumers and companies view the data protection rules after six years.
After the introduction of the GDPR: consumers are more aware of how they handle their data
A representative survey commissioned by GMX and Web.de shows that six years after the General Data Protection Regulation 35 percent of Germans have already made use of their rights.
For example, 16 percent of Germans have already asked companies to delete their data or to stop processing it. Information about stored data has been requested by 11 percent. In each case, 9 percent have asked their Right to information or requested a copy of the stored data.
The changes made in the course of the GDPR However, the cookie notices introduced on websites are causing frustration among consumers: 38 percent of Germans are annoyed by them. 37 percent of respondents reject all Cookies if this is possible. 22 percent change their cookie settings and 21 percent accept all cookies. Cookies with one click.
Overall, the introduction of the GDPR awareness of the Data protection sharpened.
High GDPR costs also bring benefits for companies
Companies also recognize the advantages of the General Data Protection Regulation seen.
According to a representative survey of around 1,350 companies in Germany conducted by ZEW Mannheim (March 2024), 41% of companies state that they have reviewed and optimized their processes. In 28% of the companies, the procedures for Processing of data is standardized. For a quarter of companies, the GDPR has led to increased legal certainty. There has also been an increase in the proportion of companies that GDPR assume an increase in customer confidence (from twelve to 20 percent compared to the last survey in 2020).
However, it is also true that the current effort required to comply with the GDPR is rated as high by the majority of companies. In addition, more than half of the companies report additional costs for employee training and an increased need for external advice.
Because incorrect implementation can be expensive. Since the introduction of the GDPR punished with significantly higher fines in the EU. A record fine of 1.2 billion euros was imposed on Facebook parent company Meta alone in 2023.
Reading tip: The five highest fines in April 2024
6 years GDPR: The use of new technologies such as Artificial intelligence brings new challenges with it. Whether data protection opens up or slows down opportunities depends less on the rules themselves than on the way in which they are handled. But data protection is more necessary than ever.
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