As a professional translation company based in London, it is not often we have to speak to clients about Data Protection Regulation. However, with GDPR soon to become law, we felt we should raise the issue and how it can affect your business and the role that translation services can play.

European Wide Regulation

Currently, across all 28 European nations, businesses are required to register and apply a privacy statement that outlines how they keep and process the data. This includes for both internal and external use. With an ever increasing number of businesses trading across borders, it means that their customers could well speak a number of different languages.  This will have implications with regards to the translation of their Data Privacy Statement. Each different country in which your business trades will need to ensure an accurate translation is made for the data processing statement.

In addition to the privacy statement, businesses will need to ensure their terms and conditions reflect the regulation changes and any of their customer agreements. Each will need to be accurately translated for their differing markets.

What are the areas covered by the GDPR?

The GDPR covers any information or data that relates to an identifiable living person (‘data subject’). For clarity, an identifiable natural person is someone who can be identified, directly or indirectly, by using an identifier such as:

• The person’s name
• Any unique identification number
• The person’s location information
• An online or digital identifier
• Age

In addition, there are other areas that could be used to identify an individual which could include one or more of the following factors specific to that person:

• Physical
• Physiological
• Genetic
• Mental Health
• Economic
• Cultural
• Social

There are also the following points that are referred to as “Sensitive Personal Data”. This type of personal information that could reveal the following about, or used to specifically identify, any natural living person:

• Racial or ethnic origin
• Political views / standing
• Religious beliefs
• Any Trade Union affiliation or membership
• Genetic information
• Biometric information
• Age
• Health
• Sex life / sexual orientation

As you can see there are many areas that are covered by the GDPR and so businesses need to ensure they have covered each specific section, including the translation for the relevant documentation.

We hope the following link should prove useful in understand the processes and requirements in greater detail: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/business/

If you would like to discuss your translation requirements for your GDPR privacy statement, please call on 0203 696 8680 and we’ll be delighted to discuss it with you.