OpenSource systems, Joomla and GDPR

The GDPR has caused a small tremor within the German and even the international web community. The EU's new General Data Protection Regulation will strengthen the rights of users everywhere on the Internet - at the same time, companies are afraid of significant amounts in dispute in warnings. It is now important for website operators to pay attention not only to changes in the law, but also to the adaptability of their own content management systems. It is precisely with such a change that the enormous advantages that an open CMS like Joomla brings with it become apparent.

What exactly is the GDPR?

The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation is a new package of laws that primarily deals with the issue of data protection. Until now, the regulations were a matter for the individual countries - with the new law there is a central package that all operators of websites and companies in the EU must adhere to. The focus is primarily on the protection of sensitive data and on consumer self-control when it comes to the processing, transfer and storage of this data. Here are some examples of the new obligations that companies and website operators face:

• In the future, users will have the right to obtain information about stored data and to request a solution to the data.
• From a certain company size, a data protection officer is required to ensure compliance with the regulations.
• The regulations on the transfer of data have become even stricter - this applies, for example, to cookies on websites or to links to other sites.

Of course, the exact points are a little more complex, but would go beyond the scope. All in all, the idea is to give users greater control over their data on and off the web. Companies now primarily fear that warnings could come because individual aspects of the GDPR were not observed on their own website - for example an incorrect or incomplete data protection declaration. This is exactly where the big advantage that comes with an open source system like Joomla begins. Because it is the community that ensures that Joomla is GDPR compliant.

The advantages of an open source CMS like Joomla when it comes to GDPR

Closed systems now have the problem that users are dependent on the manufacturers and programmers behind the scripts to provide the updates. This is of course not acceptable, especially with things like the GDPR, where even the smallest rulings or changes in the law can lead to significant changes on the website. It is even worse when the risk of warnings automatically increases as the deadline for the new laws begins.

The content management system Joomla, with its large international community, is a good example of how to respond to these changes. The topic was discussed early on in the forums and various experts worked on the legal interpretation and adaptation of the website. The plugins for the necessary adaptation of your own website were available quickly. With just a few clicks, your own presence on the Internet could be made GDPR-compliant - and all of this completely free of charge, without any additional consultants or individual need for additional programming.

Joomla users benefit from the knowledge and speed of the community, which always ensures that they can react to new laws, regulations and trends on the Internet so that their website is always up to date. This applies not only to the CMS GDPR, but also to other changes in the fast-moving internet market.