#GeneralDataProtectionRegulation - One year on

On 25 May 2019, the General Data Protection Regulation will celebrate its first year of entry into application. To mark the occasion, Digital Single Market  Vice President Andrus Ansip, and Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Commissioner Věra Jourová (pictured) issued the following statement: “25 May marks the anniversary of Europe's new data protection rules, the General Data Protection Regulation, also widely known as the GDPR. The main aim of the rules has been to empower people and help them to gain more control over their personal data.

"Also, companies now benefit from one set of rules applying throughout our Union. They have put their house in order when it comes to data, which led to increased data security and a trust-based relationship with their clients. The GDPR gave authorities teeth to tackle breaches. For example, one year on, the newly established European Data Protection Board has registered over 400 cross-border cases around Europe. New figures show that nearly six in ten people know that there is a data protection authority in their country.

"This is a significant increase from four in ten people back in 2015. The data protection authorities have an essential role to play in making GDPR deliver on the ground. The GDPR has changed the landscape in Europe and beyond. But compliance is a dynamic process and does not happen overnight. Our key priority for months to come is to ensure proper and equal implementation in the member states.”

The full statement can be found online. A factsheet with key figures on GDPR is available here, and a second factsheet with results of the special Eurobarometer on data protection here. Commissioner Jourová has given a press conference in the House of European History taking stock of the GDPR, one year after its entry into application. The press conference was recorded and is available on EbS.

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