How Singapore SMEs should prepare for EU general data protection regulation

SINGAPORE'S small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have business dealings with clients based in the European Union (EU) will need to keep an important date in mind - May 25, 2018.

That is the day the new legal framework, the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), will come into force across the EU to protect all EU citizens and residents from privacy and data breaches by giving them greater control over the organisations that can use their personal data.

This means that, in about 10 months, all organisations - whether in the EU or anywhere else - must adhere to the GDPR regulation as long as they collect and process personal data of EU citizens and residents.