GDPR: Why We're Adopting It Universally

Update: Per 2022 and 2023 changes to EU/UK regulations, we have updated our Terms of Service. See this blog post for the latest.

Europe's new GDPR rules are due to go into effect in a couple of weeks, and like many other technology and data processing companies, Accelo has been working for many months to ensure that we (and our clients) will be in compliance with the new rules that affect anyone who has personal details of people from Europe (known, delightfully, as "data subjects") stored in their technology systems/databases.

Because Accelo has always treated the data that our clients enter into Accelo (either directly or indirectly) as their own data, and because we've never shared it with third parties or done anything else with it other than secure, encrypt and make it available for our users, there are very few changes of substance required to comply with the GDPR.

While there aren't changes of substance, that doesn't mean there isn't a bunch of paperwork effort required to prepare for this major regulatory change. For the benefit of our clients (who have important responsibilities as Data Controllers under the GDPR), we've recently published a preview of our updated Terms of Service (which will be effective from May 25th), which encapsulate our commitments to our clients (known in the Terms as Subscribers). Unlike a number of other tech companies, we've chosen to adopt these principles universally for all clients, not just those with data subjects in Europe. Rather than creating just an optional side amendment (known as a Data Processing Amendment), we're including important undertakings directly in our universal Terms of Service.

While the Terms of Service changes are primarily about the commitments we make to our clients in our role as a data processor, we will also have updates to our Privacy Policy to share in the coming week as they relate to our role as a controller for our own clients' direct information.

If you've got any questions about these updates, please don't hesitate to email [email protected].