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ARTICLE · 21 FEBRUARY 2017

The European General Data Protection Regulation

Dillon Eustace
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Dillon Eustace

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Under the GDPR, certain data controllers and data processors will need to appoint a Data Protection Officer

European UnionPrivacy
Dillon Eustace
Dillon Eustace
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The long-awaited European General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") entered into force on 24 May 2016 and, following a two year transition period, will apply from 25 May 20181. The GDPR will replace Directive 95/46/EC (the "Directive") on which the Irish Data Protection Regime2 is based. The GDPR will be directly applicable in all Member States without the need for implementing national legislation and it is hoped that the use of a Regulation will bring greater harmonisation throughout the European Union ("EU").

The GDPR does not fundamentally change the core rules regarding the processing of personal data which are contained in the Directive but rather seeks to expand and strengthen the rights of data subjects. The GDPR aims to make businesses more accountable for data privacy compliance and offers data subjects extra rights and more control over their personal data. This bulletin aims to summarise some of the main changes that will arise under the GDPR.

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