New European Data Protection Law Is Already Affecting Brazilian Companies

05/22/2018 - 11h18

The new European regulations for protection of personal data, known by the acronym GDPR, is about to enter in vigor, and is already affecting Brazilian companies that do business with the block.

This is due to the fact that the regulation, which goes into effect on Friday (the 25th), specifies that any and all companies who are headquartered in Europe or collect data from residents there are subject to the new rules.

The effects have already begun to be felt in Brazil, says Andriei Gutierrez, Coordinator for the Regulatory Committee for Abes (Brazilian Association of Software Companies). According to Gutierrez, European companies have been looking to adjust their contracts with Brazilian suppliers for compliance, demanding greater commitments from them related to the treatment of personal data.

Vitor Magnani, President of the Brazilian O2O Association, which brings together startups that connect online and offline services, says that European investors in technology companies also are expected to demand adjustments from Brazilian companies that they are investing in.

Alexandre Pacheco, Professor at the FGV Law School, said that, due to their impact and reaction across the supplier chain, new regulations like these tend to grow stronger and serve as model to be followed worldwide.

EUROPE

European companies have been working against the clock to adapt themselves to the new rules.

With the changes just about to enter in vigor, users have been receiving an avalanche of e-mails from companies informing them of the new law and asking for their authorization to continue sending newsletters and other communications.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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