The future of the internet is going to put consumers in control of their data. New privacy initiatives and other regulations are set to take effect this year. Keep reading to learn how your use of online gaming sites like jackpotjoy and a variety of other tools will change in the year ahead. This is especially important if you are a business owner or have a job where you are responsible for customer data.
New Legislation in the US and Europe
California is leading the way in the United States, implementing a variety of new laws and regulations aimed at helping individuals take control of how their data is used online. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) went into effect in 2018, but the enforcement mechanisms designed to punish those that are not compliant will go into effect on July 1, 2020.
California is home to silicon valley, the tech capital of the world. When privacy-focused legislation is enacted and enforced here, it can have far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world.
California now requires businesses that store customer data to empower consumers to delete that data, or limit the collection of information about them. Consumers also now have the right to learn which third-party companies have been given access to their information.
This legislation was inspired, in part, by the GDPR passed by the European Union.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
GDPR was passed into law in 2016. It’s worth revisiting in 2020 because of its vast impact on businesses operating in the European Economic Area (EEA), as well as international websites that allow users from the EEA to access their site.
Both GDPR and CCPA are designed to empower internet users to take control of how their data is collected, stored and shared. Companies in 2020 need to pay careful attention to how customer information is handled at every stage of their supply chain.
Add a disclaimer to your website now!
I’m not a lawyer and I don’t pretend to be an expert on how laws impact your business, but common sense is a good place to start when thinking about how these new consumer data protection laws will impact your website in 2020 and beyond.
For example, many online gaming sites have loyalty programs that are networked with other sites and organizations. If someone places a bet on one site, they have the ability to leverage their “status” or reward points on other in-network platforms.
Consumers, in this case, would need to agree to a data privacy agreement that explicitly outlines how their information will be shared as part of the loyalty program. This must occur before information is collected, stored or transmitted.
You’ve probably noticed that virtually every site on the internet now has an in-depth legal disclaimer about cookies and other tracking tools designed to help websites better understand and serve their users.
If you’re going to collect, store or share data about individuals that visit your site in 2020, it’s time to step back and think about the process so that you can ensure compliance – and avoid potentially hefty fines from European authorities, as well as consumer protection agencies in the United States.
For consumers, this means that you’ll need to provide informed consent. For businesses, it’s time to get serious about data privacy and compliance.