Alert: The new data protection regulation in Europe and its consequences for e-commerce businesses

Rodrigo Pinto · 2026-10-07

Understand the key changes to data protection legislation

The new regulation, which aligns with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), brings significant changes. Key points include:

Explicit consent: Consumers must now give clear and affirmative consent to the processing of their data.
Right to erasure: Users can request the deletion of their data at any time.
Breach notification: Companies must notify users and authorities within 72 hours of discovering any data breach.

Responsibilities of e-commerce operators

E-commerce operators have crucial responsibilities when it comes to consumer data:

Collection and processing: Only collect the data needed to run your business. Avoid collecting excessive data.
Transparency: Clearly explain how data will be used and stored.
Data protection: Implement appropriate security measures to protect consumer data.

Fines and penalties for non-compliance

Penalties for non-compliance can be severe. Fines can reach up to 4% of annual global revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher. In addition, your brand’s reputation could be seriously affected, leading to a loss of customers and trust.

How to update privacy policies and terms of use

To ensure compliance, follow these steps:

Policy review: Update your privacy policies and terms of use to reflect the new requirements.
Clarity and accessibility: Make sure your policies are written in clear, easy-to-understand language.
Consent: Add checkboxes so users can clearly and separately consent to different types of data.

Tools to ensure compliance in your online store

There are several tools that can help ensure compliance:

Consent management platforms: Use tools that help manage user consent.
Regular audits: Conduct periodic audits to check compliance with data protection rules.
Team training: Invest in training your team on data protection and best practices.

Adapting to the new data protection regulations is crucial to keeping your e-commerce business running in Europe. What changes have you already made to your online store to comply with this new legislation? Share your numbers!