GDPR Compliant Data Collection Guide

What is GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the EU's data privacy law. It applies to ANY business collecting EU resident data—even if you're outside the EU.

Key Rule: You need explicit, informed, unambiguous consent before collecting personal data.

Compliance Checklist

Clear privacy policy explaining data use
Explicit opt-in consent (pre-ticked boxes = illegal)
Data minimization—only collect what's necessary
Right to access, update, and delete user data
Secure data storage and transmission
72-hour breach notification requirement
Data Processing Agreement with any processors
Records of processing activities

Consent Form Best Practices

Your forms must be user-friendly and transparent:

Plain language, no legal jargon
Separate consent for marketing vs. necessary data
Easy withdrawal of consent
Specific purpose—not vague "improve services"
Active opt-in required (not pre-ticked)

What Data Can You Collect?

✓ Legitimate Data

Name, Email, IP Address (anonymized), Usage analytics, Transaction history

✗ Sensitive Data

Race, Religion, Health data, Political opinions, Biometric data