How Merchants Will Be Impacted by the GDPR

Are you concerned about how you will be affected by the GDPR?

You’re probably familiar with the acronym, but what is it? And how does it affect merchants and merchant resellers in the U.S?

GDPR is an acronym for the General Data Protection Regulation (EU).

The GDPR is a regulation regarding data protection and privacy. In an effort to protect EU residents, the regulation outlines new rules for what companies can and cannot do with user data.

What Does The GDPR Look Like?

On a basic level, the GDPR requires more user consent regarding data.

For instance, to align with the GDPR, websites may choose to include warning messages that say things like, “The following page may track your location if you choose to proceed,” accompanied by a button that says, “Proceed.”

These opt-in features give users the ability to say: “No thanks, I don’t want to share that information,” or, “Sure, I’m okay with sharing that information. Let’s move forward.”

How The GDPR Affects Merchants and Merchant Resellers

According to 3Q Digital:

“The upcoming [GDPR] changes apply to all EU organizations regardless of where they do business and organizations outside the EU that intentionally offer goods or services or monitor activities in the EU.”

Which means, U.S. merchants who use or collect data from EU residents are affected by the GDPR. Likewise, U.S. merchants who intentionally advertise and sell to EU consumers are affected by the GDPR.

According to the Information Commissioner’s Office, an independent authority in the UK, “The GDPR provides the following rights for individuals:

1. The right to be informed
2. The right of access
3. The right to rectification
4. The right to erasure
5. The right to restrict processing
6. The right to data portability
7. The right to object
8. Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling”

If you are a merchant reseller, you may board web commerce merchants who sell worldwide.

These merchants may advertise and sell to EU residents. It’s smart to familiarize yourself with the GDPR in case your merchants ask for information.

Electronic Merchant Systems Security and Compliance

As a leading provider of payment processing and merchant services, Electronic Merchant Systems is a Level 1 Service Provider.

We achieved our first Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance in 2005 and just successfully completed our thirteenth annual assessment. To stay up-to-date with our evolving industry, we are a long-standing member of the PCI Security Standards Council and members of the Electronic Transactions Association.

To learn more about our ISO Agent Program, and how we can help you be a successful agent, click the link below.