What is GDPR compliance, what does it stand for and what has Google been accused of?
EVERYONE has had loads of emails about updated privacy policies - and it's all to do with GDPR.
Here's what it stands for and what it really means for you.
What is GDPR? What does it stand for?
GDPR stands for the General Data Protection Regulation, a new set of rules that came into effect on May 25.
The GDPR is a piece of EU legislation passed by the European Parliament in 2016.
It aims to make it simpler for people to control how companies use their personal details.
Companies will not be allowed to collect and use personal information without the person's consent.
Data includes things like a person's name, email address and phone number, and also internet browsing habits collected by website cookies.
Firms must also report any data breaches - including cyber attacks and accidental leaks - to authorities within 72 hours.
It applies to all companies that collect data in the UK - even after Brexit, as the government is enshrining the same rules in UK law.
Privacy campaigners have hailed the regulation as a step forward for online rights, but small firms are furious about the administrative burden of complying with the law.
What does GDPR mean for me?
The number of emails we have been receiving is the first thing most of us noticed about GDPR.
It means you have been on a company's mailing list, have bought something from them before or agreed to receive marketing.
You probably ticked a consent box once - but that was under the old rules.
Now firms have to ask your consent to continue collecting and storing your data.
That is why they are asking you to agree to their new privacy policies. They are complying with the new rules in force from May 25.
In future, GDPR means individuals can demand a copy of all data held about them, which must be supplied within 30 days.
And in some cases they can ask for any data to be deleted in a formal "right to be forgotten" law.
If you also run a business - even as a sole trader - you need to make sure you comply with the law on collecting your customers' data.
Last year handymen, gardeners and window cleaners were warned they could be fined if they try to drum up business by sending an email.
Read our guide to the GDPR compliance deadline.
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What has Google been accused of?
Search engine giant Google has been accused of breaching GDPR with "misleading" location tracking.
The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden have filed complaints with their native regulators.
The complaints focus on the use of location tracking and web and app activity menus in android phones.
They argue Google is misleading users when apparently turning off location tracking does not stop Google from being able to track your movements.
Google responded: "Location History is turned off by default, and you can edit, delete, or pause it at any time. If it's on, it helps improve services like predicted traffic on your commute.
"If you pause it, we make clear that — depending on your individual phone and app settings — we might still collect and use location data to improve your Google experience.
"We're constantly working to improve our controls, and we'll be reading this report closely to see if there are things we can take on board."
Under GDPR regulations, a firm can be fined up to four percent of its global revenue, if found to have broken the rules.