With GDPR coming into effect today, the international organization ICERTIAS presents an educational and promotional program, “GDPR Stars.”
As the European Commission cites, new challenges in the protection of personal data have emerged due to rapid technological development and globalization. With the new package of legislative measures (GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation – EU 2016/679), the official bodies of the European Union emphasize that they want to make Europe as prepared as possible for an ever more intensive digital era.
Given that GDPR is a regulation and not a directive, its rules must automatically be implemented by all member states of the EU from May 25, 2018. Additionally, all global EU citizens are legally protected by the GDPR. In other words, regardless of where an EU citizen may be situated, companies and organizations that keep and process EU citizens’ data must comply with GDPR rules.
According to the consensus of the GDPR EU legislation signatories, EU citizens will have far greater control over their personal data and it will be much easier to file complaints concerning the misuse of their data.
After all, more than 90 percent of Europeans say that they want the same data protection rights across the EU, no matter where their data is processed, as stated on the official website of the European Commission.
Numerous international experts describe the GDPR as the most advanced legal basis for the protection of personal data in the world. However, while many leading legal, IT and digital security experts say GDPR is an extremely positive step forward in the protection of personal data, there are also individuals claiming that this new regulation is unnecessary and that it will only complicate business for companies and organizations in the EU territory.
A large number of companies and organizations fear penalties and other potential negative repercussions brought on by the GDPR.
GDPR Stars
ICERTIAS fully understands the concerns of many companies and organizations and their fears of sanctions imposed by the GDPR, the organization says, but considers the interests of the individuals in safeguarding the security of their privacy and personal data in today’s digitized and globalized world, far more paramount and prominent.
Fully supporting the ideas and guidelines featured in the new regulation and signed by the European Commission and other governing bodies and EU committees, the international organization ICERTIAS recognizes the GDPR as an extremely important step in strengthening the fundamental rights of citizens in the digital age.
In presenting “GDPR Stars,” ICERTIAS joins the efforts of the EU bodies including the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council and other governing institutions and boards behind the GDPR, to protect the personal data of citizens irrespective of their nationality or place of residence.
Entry into the GDPR Stars program is not mandatory. ICERTIAS views the GDPR Stars program as an exclusive club, solely for companies that take exceptional care of the security of the personal data that they handle.
The GDPR Stars seal will only be given to organizations that can confirm they are in full compliance with the GDPR, and which will exclusively be bound, on signing the special GDPR Stars Declaration, to promote and educate its employees, business partners, and public on the positive effects of the introduction of the GDPR.
ICERTIAS, the organization behind the “GDPR Stars” program, believes that by introducing the GDPR legislation, not only will citizens and individuals benefit but ultimately, businesses and organizations that work with EU citizens as well, as GDPR rules will compel them to offer the best quality personal data protection on the market. Thanks to this, trust between companies and organizations and their existing and future clients will be further cemented.
The desire of the ICERTIAS organization is to gather “star” companies and businesses that truly care about the protection of personal data of their customers and clients, all in one educational and promotional program.
