GDPR - Why Should I Care?

During the last month - and especially the last week - there has been a lot of discussion in the online genealogy community about the European Union's GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). I didn't pay much attention at first. After all, it is a European Union regulation and I live in Kansas. As the discussion became more frequent, I began paying attention.


So, should I care?

One blogger made the comment that as a citizen of the United States, he didn't see how we could be subject to any fines imposed by the European Union in regards to GDPR.

I don't earn money from my blogs. Nor, do I have 'subscribers' to my blogs. Thus, it would be easy to take the attitude that the GDPR doesn't apply, especially for those of us living in small town America.

As I read more and more about the issue for bloggers, I realized that I should pay attention and try to be compliant.

So, Why Care?

Even though I live in Kansas, I have done research for people from Europe - particularly as a volunteer for the Nemaha County Historical Society.  I often included a link to a Nemaha County page on my personal website with their research report. Thus, it would be fairly safe to conclude that both the historical society's website and my personal website are visited by people from Europe.

With the potential for a citizen of the European Union to visit my website or one of my blogs and with the potential heavy fines,

I have elected to care.