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New study finds majority of events are still struggling with GDPR

New study finds majority of events are still struggling with GDPR

25/03/2024

We look at the challenges facing event organisers when it comes to GDPR

Event organizers may struggle with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance for several reasons:

  1. Complexity of Regulation: GDPR is a comprehensive and complex regulation with stringent requirements regarding the processing and protection of personal data. Understanding the intricacies of GDPR and ensuring compliance can be challenging, especially for event organizers who may not have specialized legal expertise in data protection laws.
  2. Handling Attendee Data: Events often involve collecting and processing personal data from attendees for various purposes such as registration, ticketing, marketing, and networking. Ensuring that the collection, storage, and processing of this data comply with GDPR requirements, including obtaining valid consent and implementing appropriate security measures, can be daunting.
  3. Third-Party Services and Vendors: Event organizers frequently rely on third-party services and vendors for event management, ticketing, marketing, and other aspects of event planning. Ensuring that these third parties also comply with GDPR and adequately protect attendee data adds another layer of complexity to GDPR compliance efforts.
  4. Cross-Border Data Transfers: Many events attract attendees from different countries, leading to cross-border transfer of personal data. GDPR imposes strict requirements for transferring personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to countries that do not have equivalent data protection laws. Event organizers need to ensure that such transfers comply with GDPR's data transfer mechanisms, such as Standard Contractual Clauses or Binding Corporate Rules.
  5. Data Subject Rights: GDPR grants individuals certain rights regarding their personal data, such as the right to access, rectify, and erase their data. Event organizers must be prepared to respond to data subject requests promptly and accurately, which requires establishing processes and procedures for handling such requests effectively.
  6. Data Breach Management: GDPR mandates that organizations report certain types of personal data breaches to supervisory authorities and affected individuals within strict timeframes. Event organizers need robust data breach response plans in place to detect, investigate, and report breaches promptly to comply with these requirements.
  7. Resource Constraints: Small to medium-sized event organizers, in particular, may lack the resources, budget, and expertise to implement comprehensive GDPR compliance measures. They may struggle to allocate sufficient time, staff, and financial resources to address GDPR requirements effectively.

Overall, GDPR compliance poses significant challenges for event organizers due to its complexity, the handling of attendee data, reliance on third parties, cross-border considerations, data subject rights, data breach management, and resource constraints. However, investing in GDPR compliance is crucial to protect attendees' privacy rights, avoid costly fines and penalties, and maintain trust and reputation in the event industry.

Article by: Craig Duncan

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