The combined project GDPR1DSM between the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and TIEKE, which will start in November, will offer to the micro and small enterprises information and instruments in order to take care of data protection. The data protection creates confidence in the company’s operations and can offer new opportunities of international business.
Based on the experience and polls, many small and medium enterprises need more information and support on questions about personal data protection both in Finland and anywhere in Europe.
One of the main objectives of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is reducing the barriers which obstaculate the companies from expanding in the internal EU market.
According to the GDPR report of the Commission published in June, some interested parts think that the General Data Protection Regulation application is challenging, especially for the SME, and the companies which really need support in order to facilitate the application of the General Data Protection Regulation.The project GDPR2DSM, from November, replies to this exigence.
Competences and instruments for SME in order to take care of personal data protection.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and TIEKE have obtained the financing of EU projects in order to offer an instrument easy to use for SME. The objective is offering to the SME an instrument for assessing data protection practices without previous competences about personal data protection.
The project will reinforce the ability of the SME to guarantee that their practices of data processing will meet the requirement of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Practices of data protection create confidence in business affairs between consumers and companies and offer to the SME better opportunities also in the international market.
According to a recent poll by Sitra, almost a half of finnish SME was careful on the possibility of the data economy and a one-fifth was negative. According to the GDPR Small Business Servey conducted in four countries in 2019, almost half of the SME was not sure to fulfill the GDPR requirements.
“It is important that companies understand the value of personal data protection and privacy. I hope that personal data protection is not seen as a item of expenditure, but like a business enabler and a competitive advantage.” affirm Ana Talus the Data Protection Commissioner.
Together developing better data protection
The project will start by identifying the data protection needs and challenges of SMEs. The results serve as a guideline for project work and a basis for joint development with companies.
The aim of the project and its tool is to increase the knowledge base and, in particular, to help those micro and small enterprises that find the application of the Data Protection Regulation challenging. At the same time, it will promote the transfer of small businesses into the digital environment and the EU internal market.
What is GDPR2DSM?
The combination of letters in the name refers to the General Data Protection Regulation and the EU digital single market.
The GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, is the law governing the processing of personal data, which came into force in all EU countries in spring 2018.
The DSM, for its part, refers to the European digital single market, the development of which essentially consists in removing national barriers to online transactions.
Data protection is an asset and a competitive advantage across the EU and worldwide. Taking care of data protection makes it easier for companies to trade and cooperate across borders with international customers.
A longer version of the two-year GDPR2DSM project name, starting in November, illustrates the goal: GDPR opens the door to a digital internal market: key online tools for SMEs and support to seize opportunities.
The project will be tested in Finland, after which the results can be applied in other EU Member States.
GDPR2DSM
Two-year project: GDPR opens the doors to the digital single market: key online tools for SMEs and support to exploit opportunities (GDPR opening the doors to the digital single market: online tools focused on SMEs and support to exploit opportunities).
The project is funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union.
The coordinator is the Office of the Commissioner for Data Protection and the project partner is the TIEKE Information Society Development Centre. The Head of Innovation Finland assisted in the preparation of the project.
SOURCE: AUTORITA’ PER LA PROTEZIONE DEI DATI DELLA FINLANDIA