Author: Amy Cadagin (M3AAWG Executive Director)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was designed to harmonize different data privacy laws across European countries in an effort to protect the privacy and data protection rights of individuals and empower them to better understand and make decisions on who processes their data and in what way.

Enforcement of the regulations' requirements went into effect in 2018, yet the efforts to comply remain a priority in the months and years ahead for M3AAWGs various interest groups, including ESPs, MBPs and others.

Simon McGarr, M3AAWG Senior Advisor, specializes in GDPR compliance and led multiple sessions at M3AAWG 48 specific to the regulations. We sat down with him to discuss the questions members may be asking and explore why M3AAWG is in a unique position to offer the answers and insights they need. 

Tell us a little bit about your background and current role within the M3AAWG community.

What kinds of critical questions are M3AAWG members asking this year about GDPR?

What kinds of action can we expect to see around the enforcement and regulation of GDPR in 2020 and beyond?

What in your opinion makes M3AAWG, and the work that’s done during the meetings, unique?

And why does the working nature of these meetings foster a culture that produces answers to our industry’s most pressing questions?

If a potential member were to ask “Why should I join M3AAWG?” what would you say?