Web & SEO
What is GDPR compliance?
GDPR compliance means handling the personal data of people in the European Union in line with the General Data Protection Regulation, which governs how that data is collected, used, stored, and deleted.
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Technical definition
GDPR applies to organizations processing the personal data of people in the EU, regardless of where the organization is based. It requires a lawful basis for each processing purpose, data minimization, purpose limitation, security appropriate to the risk, and defined retention periods.
It grants individuals rights to access their data, correct it, have it deleted, restrict or object to processing, and receive it in a portable format. Organizations must maintain records of processing activities and, in most cases, report qualifying breaches to a supervisory authority within 72 hours.
In plain terms
If people in the EU can use your site, the rules apply to you, wherever you are.
Collect only what you need, say why you are collecting it, keep it safe, delete it when you are done, and do what people ask when they want it back or gone.
Why it matters
Small businesses often assume this is a problem for large companies. It is triggered by having EU visitors, which a public website does by default, and the obligations scale down rather than disappearing.
The version that fits a small business is manageable. List every place customer data lives, including the spreadsheet and the inbox. Know why you hold each piece and under what basis. Publish an accurate privacy policy. Get real consent before non-essential tracking. Have a way to find and delete one person's data when they ask, which is the requirement most businesses discover they cannot meet. And check your suppliers, since a processor handling data on your behalf is your responsibility too. This page is background rather than legal advice.
