2018年CRI Chinese businesses in Europe able to abide by GDPR: experts

 

The General Data Protection Regulation, the GDPR, has taken effect across the European Union, requiring businesses to take extra measures to protect the personal data of consumers.

Experts believe that Chinese businesses operating in Europe will be able to adapt to the new tighter regulations.

The General Data Protection Regulation has taken effect after four years of discussion and a two year interim¹ period.

The GDPR was first put forward in 2012, and adopted by the European Parliament in 2016. It acts as an update to the existing regulations that were adopted in 1995.

German legal advisor² Robert Fechner says the new data protection rules require businesses to protect the personal data and privacy of E.U. citizens.

"The GDPR aims to protect an individual's personal data and privacy, creating a strict legal framework for businesses to protect the personal data of their consumers. It is legally binding³ on all companies operating in Europe, regardless of what kind of business they're involved in," says Fechner.

The rights of the individuals regarding their data, and the obligations of the data controllers and processors to protect those rights, are clearly stipulated⁴ in the new rules, which lay out the requirements for consumers to be notified of breaches⁵ and provide hefty fines for rule breakers.

The regulations also require opt-in consent when collecting data and detail the responsibilities of companies regarding data sovereignty.

Companies that break the data protection rules face fines as high as 4 percent of their worldwide revenue.

The definition of personal data has also been extended to include biometric data such as fingerprints⁶ and iris⁷ patterns, and sensitive data including a person's ethnic⁸ origin and religious faith. This is on top of the protections granted to personal data such as an individual's name, address, ID numbers, and IP address.

Maurizio Mensi, a professor from Italy's LUISS University, says the business community in his country has taken steps to learn the new regulation.

"Big firms in Italy have already taken steps to prepare for the implementation⁹ of the GDPR, investing funds into personnel training. However, many small and medium companies are still unaware¹⁰ of the new regulation and also lack the funds they need to prepare. But now there are many services being provided for those enterprises, including classes, training sessions and seminars, so that they can adapt to the new regulation as soon as possible," says Mensi.

Some Chinese companies, such as banks, e-commerce, or Internet firms, will also have to abide¹¹ by the regulation, since they often collect and process users' personal information.

Maurizio Mensi says he believes that those companies will fully¹² learn the rules and make adjustments.

"The most important thing is to correctly understand the relevant items and make adjustments to adapt to them, such as how to get approval from the data subjects, how to handle the personal data of minors¹³, and how to assess relevant risks. I believe that many Chinese enterprises are sensitive enough to take the initiative to learn the new regulation and the changes it brings," says Mensi.

He adds that the rules should be updated from time to time so as to keep pace with the rapid advancing of technologies.

1 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

2 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

3 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

4 stipulated   

vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的

参考例句：

• A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. 合同中规定了交货日期。
• Yes, I think that's what we stipulated. 对呀，我想那是我们所订定的。 来自辞典例句

5 breaches   

破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背

参考例句：

• He imposed heavy penalties for breaches of oath or pledges. 他对违反誓言和保证的行为给予严厉的惩罚。
• This renders all breaches of morality before marriage very uncommon. 这样一来，婚前败坏道德的事就少见了。

6 fingerprints   

n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
• They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套，以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 iris   

n.虹膜，彩虹

参考例句：

• The opening of the iris is called the pupil.虹膜的开口处叫做瞳孔。
• This incredible human eye,complete with retina and iris,can be found in the Maldives.又是在马尔代夫，有这样一只难以置信的眼睛，连视网膜和虹膜都刻画齐全了。

8 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

9 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

10 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

11 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

12 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

13 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》