Data Privacy Compliance Guide for Businesses | GDPR, CCPA, State Laws | BRITECITY

Data privacy regulation has evolved rapidly since GDPR took effect in 2018. The United States now has comprehensive privacy laws in 19 states, with California (CPRA), Virginia (VCDPA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), and others creating a complex compliance landscape. Meanwhile, GDPR enforcement has intensified, with cumulative fines exceeding €4.5 billion since 2018. Every business that collects customer data—even small B2B companies—must understand their obligations.

GDPR applies to any business that offers goods or services to EU residents or monitors their behavior, regardless of where the business is located. Key requirements include:

Lawful Basis for Processing - You need a legal justification (consent, contract, legitimate interest) for each type of data processing.

Data Subject Rights - EU residents can request access, correction, deletion, and portability of their data. You must respond within 30 days.

Privacy by Design - Data protection must be built into systems from the start, not added afterward.

Breach Notification - Notify supervisory authorities within 72 hours of discovering a breach affecting EU data.

California's privacy laws apply if you have California customers and meet any of these thresholds: annual revenue over $25 million, data on 100,000+ consumers, or 50%+ of revenue from selling personal information. Key requirements include:

Right to Know - Consumers can request disclosure of what data you collect and how you use it.

Right to Delete - Consumers can request deletion of their personal information.

Right to Opt-Out - Consumers can opt-out of the sale or sharing of their personal information. You must display a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link.

Non-Discrimination - You cannot deny services or charge different prices to consumers who exercise their privacy rights.

Beyond California, 18 other states have enacted comprehensive privacy laws as of 2026. While each law has unique provisions, common themes include:

Consumer Rights - Access, correction, deletion, and portability rights are nearly universal.

Opt-Out Requirements - Most require opt-out mechanisms for targeted advertising and data sales.

Data Protection Assessments - High-risk processing activities require documented assessments.

Rather than implementing 19 different compliance programs, most businesses adopt a "highest common denominator" approach—meeting the strictest requirements to ensure compliance everywhere.

1. Data Inventory - Map what personal data you collect, where it is stored, and who has access. You cannot protect what you do not know you have.

2. Update Privacy Policies - Ensure your privacy policy accurately describes your data practices and includes all required disclosures. Generic templates are insufficient.

3. Implement Request Handling - Create processes to receive and respond to consumer rights requests within required timeframes (typically 30-45 days).

4. Configure Cookie Consent - Implement a consent management platform that respects user choices and meets jurisdiction-specific requirements.

5. Vendor Contracts - Update contracts with vendors who process personal data to include required data protection provisions.