Are you getting a bunch of terms of service emails? Here is the reason why. I'm Rich Demiro. This is Rich on Tech Daily. Well, if you've checked your inbox lately, you have definitely seen them emails with the subject lines like important update to our terms of service and privacy policy, or we're updating our terms of service and privacy policy, or simply GDPR. Notice, it's all because of that acronym,
something called the GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation. It's a new European law, but it's having implications here in the US. The new law requires companies to better explain to consumers the data that they're collecting and ensures that they use it in a responsible way. Basically, it's all to prevent another Cambridge Analytica style situation. Although keep in mind this law has been in the works long before
that scandal broke. And the reason why these companies are taking the new law so seriously there are signs magnificant penalties. We're talking fines in the billions of dollars if they don't comply. And the interesting thing about the law is that even though it applies to European residents, big companies around the world are deciding that it's just kind of easier to update their general terms of use and their privacy policy for everyone instead of having different guidelines for
different parts of the world. That's why we're getting the emails from all these companies here in the US, So in effect, we are sort of benefiting from the European protections, even though here in the US we do not have the same strict or one size fits all privacy law. Now one provision. Some eagle eyed email recipients have noticed, and some of you have emailed me about this. Some companies like Oath, which now owns Yahoo, are asking consumers
to give up their rights to class action lawsuits. So what can you do if you don't agree with something in these terms and conditions, Well, not much as you might expect. Your only remedy is to stop doing business with the service if you don't agree with how they're using your data. But the good news is the GDPR is making that easier as well. The new law says companies must offer a way for you to download your personal data from them at any time and have your
information erased from company servers in a timely manner. Now, Facebook and Google have had similar tools that do this for a while now, and we just saw Instagram launch one as well. The new GDPR law goes into effect May twenty fifth, so expect to see a bunch of emails until then and now, you know, thanks so much for listening. If you like this podcast, please leave a review on the Apple Podcasts app. That way more folks see it. I'm Rich damiro links to everything I talk
about at my website, richontech dot tv. I'll talk to you real soon.