69% of customers are 'concerned' with their data on IoT devices

[si_guide_block id="99357" title="Download Premium Resource – GDPR briefing guide" description="Our round-up of the best guidance on the latest European Union data protection and privacy legislation and how it affects you and your business Are you ready for the GDPR? The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) comes into force in all 28 countries in Europe on 25th May 2018. It has been agreed by the EU in this directive and how it must be implemented to remain compliant differs according to interpretation in different countries."/] This infographic from Gigya, shows the results of their most recent survey exploring privacy and personal data issues. It is interesting that with the latest changes to GDPR, soon to be enforced 25th May 2018, many consumers don't trust brands with their personal information. 69% of respondents are concerned with their personal data on…

Chart of the Day: More than half of UK business owners unaware of incoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

We only have a year left before the GDPR is officially implemented on 25th May 2018. But the figures in today's chart are showing many businesses may be left with fines of up to 10 million Euros or 2% global turnover, unless action is taken. In the chart, we can see a massive 84% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and 43% of C-suites are not even aware of the forthcoming regulation. [si_guide_block id="99357" title="Download Premium Resource – GDPR briefing guide" description="Our round-up of the best guidance on the latest European Union data protection and privacy legislation and how it affects you and your business Are you ready for the GDPR? The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) comes into force in all 28 countries in Europe on 25th May 2018. It…

What digital marketers need to know about the GDPR

As a Data Protection Officer, one of the most common questions I am often asked by our customers and at networking events is, what are the impacts of GDPR on Marketing? Historically, the way we have obtained consent to personal information within digital and direct marketing has often been a grey area. The Data Protection Act 1998 was predicated around the Data Protection Directive (DPD), established well over 21 years ago.  It could not have possibly predicted, or have catered for, the digital age where big data has become big business.

[si_guide_block id="99357" title="Download Premium Resource – GDPR briefing guide" description="Our round-up of the best guidance on the latest European Union data protection and privacy legislation and how it affects you and your business Are you ready for the GDPR? The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) comes into…

The implications of GDPR are looming, but is your company ready for the European change?

With new GDPR regulations to be effective from May 2018 - it's a topic on every email marketer's mind. But what is your company doing to prepare for this change? The Smart Insights team would really appreciate it if you could contribute your companies readiness for GDPR (which comes into force in May 2018). Please take the poll below: Is your company GDPR ready? If you can't see the poll but would like to contribute, please vote directly here. We will be soon releasing a new guide on GDPR, by our Email Marketing Manager, Kim Greenop-Gadsby, which details who and what it affects, steps to prepare for GDPR, a practical GDPR checklist, practical implementations of data collection and examples of poor judgments by companies that have panicked about GDPR. Keep an eye on our content so…

Flybe and Honda are fined £83,000 for breaking data rules

The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is coming into effect in May 2018 and businesses have to prepare for this new rigorous regulation. Because of this, companies are beginning to panic and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will not tolerate misuse of people's personal information. These two examples of email reactivation campaigns attracting fines is a warning to all businesses since this is a tactic which is commonly used by marketers to re-engage inactive email subscribers using the techniques in our best practices guide to e-mail engagement. In August 2016, Flybe sent emails with the subject line, "Are your details correct?" to over 3.3 million people in their database, who had previously opted out of marketing emails. The ICO have now fined the airline £70,000 for breaking the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations (PECR) - read enforcement notice and fine details. In a…

Be alert to the danger of new government Digital Economy bill

Its hard to believe, but digital marketing may be at its most critical point to date. Day-to-day it continues selling services and products, and maintaining purchasing loyalty while many of those involved are unaware of why a government bill could change everything forever.

The act is nearing its final phase of Westminster consideration before Royal Assent is the Digital Economy Bill, and the element of danger in what is wide and far reaching legislation is a section that instructs the Information Commissioners Office to produce new direct marketing guidelines, which incorporates anything to do with consumer data relating to digital marketing.

This in itself may seem fairly innocuous until the background is considered. The ICO will be instructed to produce new recommendations for ministers to consider. But it knows and understands acutely that the…

Every B2B marketer's holy PECR is on the chopping block

So, you thought the Privacy and Electronics Communications Regulations, your precious PECR, was going to save you from the new ePrivacy rules. Unfortunately not. The PECR appears to be on the chopping block and there is only one way it is going: to fall in line with the new EU General Data Protection Regulations. "Oh!" I hear you cry. "But I didn't listen to the GDPR changes because I assumed it didn't apply to B2B marketers!" Well, I have good news and bad news for you. Let's start with the good news, shall we? You've got the rest of this year and until 25th May 2018 to make sure your marketing data does comply with the GDPR. There are 17 months between now and then, giving you plenty of time to make sure that anyone on your email mailing lists has given you…

Digital Economy Bill update: New Marketing Code Sanctioned By Commons Committee

The Committee stage of the Digital Economy Bill has passed with a change to the Data Protection Act 1998. The key consideration is that the Information Commissioners Office is being given powers to put forward rules for a new direct marketing code that will apply to relevant areas of digital marketing.

The significant element of the act will be the instruction to the ICO to prepare a code that includes practical guidance in accordance with the Data Protection and Privacy and Electronic Communications Acts, plus introduce any other appropriate measures necessary to promote good practice.

The act gives the ICO a broad remit to put forward new rules, but must take into account the views of trade associations, members of the public and bodies that represent members of the public.

…

The EU's GDPR law requires compliance by 2018. Even with Brexit predicted to occur in 2019 or after, it can't be ignored.

Last month, I woke up in the blissful world of B2B marketing. I could create campaigns, upload my purchased data lists, segment them as appropriate and set up my lead nurturing series to send. Then it happened. That thud that resounded throughout my perfect little marketing world and shattered that blissful bubble. The judges hammer as the EU General Data Protection Regulation was put into force. It has taken me a while to come to terms with what the EU GDPR means for my marketing. Below is an account from my marketing journal through this year, with the questions that kept me awake at night, and the answers I discovered along the way. I hope you find it useful! 29th April 2016 So, I've just heard about the EU GDPR. I…

The Privacy Shield is a great opportunity for brands to win back consumer trust

The estimated $250 billion occurring annually in trans-Atlantic digital trade spells growth and opportunity for media and technology companies on both sides. However, there’s a lot of red tape involved in the ownership and transmission of sensitive consumer data. With the European Court of Justice striking down the 15-year Safe Harbor agreement last fall, citing fundamental differences in the handling of private information and legality concerns, the U.S. and the European Union have established a new data privacy agreement. Privacy Shield is meant to ensure that sensitive data is secured to EU standards before being submitted to corporations based in the U.S, all of which must agree annually to the terms provided in the directive. From traditional media houses to live event companies, the industry’s responsibility to safeguard its customers’ data and privacy is now paired with legal obligation.

Better Data Management Will…