Written in collaboration with the teams from Leto.legal, an GDPR software specializing in ensuring compliance with personal data protection regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
What is at stake?
Why is it important?
As CNIL emphasizes, "startups, like any organization, are subject to GDPR as soon as they process personal data."
As a company grows, it collects and accumulates more and more data. Therefore, it's best to establish a GDPR-compliant framework from the beginning to integrate data management into internal processes.
Three key steps to take
1️⃣ Adopt a Privacy by Design Approach
The protection and security of personal data are issues to anticipate from the product design phase, by limiting the collection of personal information to what is truly necessary for the startup's objective.
- Choose European tools and hosting providers for databases, CRMs, SaaS software (OVH, Scaleway, Brevo, Matomo, etc.).
- Adopt the right practices by implementing technical and organizational security measures, such as access management (see: IT risk management and cybersecurity)
2️⃣ Demonstrate Transparency
- Inform prospects, users, and customers about how the startup uses their personal data in a publicly accessible privacy policy (see GDPR privacy policy template below).
- Inform and enable customers and prospects to exercise their rights (right to information, right to data erasure, right to access, and right to request a copy), through for example a link in the privacy policy and in emails
- Implement a cookie banner on the website to obtain user consent.
3️⃣ Identify Personal Data and Build a Registry
- Map out personal data to identify possibly sensitive data: what personal data, in which tools?
- Build the register of personal data processing activities: declare why this data is collected (purpose), on what legal basis (consent, contract, legitimate interest, law), and for how long it will be retained.
→ Using GDPR software can help to streamline the process and save time (see example of GDPR tool below).
📚 Resources and further reading
⚖️ Startup: How to Turn Your GDPR Compliance into a Competitive Advantage? (CNIL)
⚖️ GDPR: Examples of Information Notices
📖 Practical GDPR Guide
⚒️ GDPR Tool (Leto.legal)
📝 GDPR Policy Template (Apiday)
✍️ They helped us write this page
Leto.legal is a GDPR software that specializes in ensuring compliance with personal data protection regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
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