The impact of GDPR
Let’s examine the implications of what GDPR means to the PR and communications industry. Our intention with this ebook is to try to make sense of it all. And hopefully provide you, the communicator, with some interesting and useful insights into how the regulations will or won’t affect you.
In this ebook, we provide guidance on the following GDPR-compliant questions:
- What data types does GDPR apply to?
- How should you be collecting, processing and storing data?
- Does GDPR affect how you send out press releases?
- How does it change your overall way of working?
Most organizations today should be GDPR compliant already. And hopefully, most organizations will avoid the fines and embrace the opportunities it will bring. However, only time will reveal the actual impact these regulations will have.
What does it mean for PR?
The most significant impact will be on how the marketing industry operates—especially regarding spamming and obtaining consent before distributing marketing. Of course, some of this will spill over into the PR industry.
Personal data can include anything from a name or email address to the more sensitive material, e.g. passport information or bank details. However, what you do with this data, i.e. how you retrieve it and what legal ground you have to use it, is critical.
As a communicator, you handle personal data daily. Whether it be retrieving journalists’ details, email addresses, sending personalized emails and press releases, you’re manipulating data. Under the new regulations, your organization needs to process and store this data carefully.