The GDPR replaces the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive, forcing every company around the globe to abide by strict rules when handling European subjects’ personal data. The regulations were adopted to protect EU residents and arm them with awareness about how companies use their information.
While GDPR addressed tech companies that have dealt with and make money off user data, like Facebook and Google, the expansive definition of “personal data” — everything from names and email addresses to biometrics and IP addresses — means that gaming companies have had to comply, too. And that has cost them time and money to avoid incurring fines.
This is good for gamers in the EU, who will have a much better idea what information is collected when they play, buy products or use services. Game enthusiasts outside Europe will benefit, too, as some organizations, like Razer, treat the GDPR as a privacy bellwether and adopted it globally.