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In practice, the small companies you’re so worried about regularly can and do interface with Governments - even e.g. the tax offices - and are regularly given s

In practice, the small companies you’re so worried about regularly can and do interface with Governments - even e.g. the tax offices - and are regularly given some leniency so long as they’re not obviously trying to avoid complying with the law. “Fix the thing you’re doing wrong” is always going to be the first response of the regulator. This is not America. We do not regularly put people/companies into bankruptcy just because we can.

robryan 8y ago
GDPR doesn't specifically state that though. If a country in the EU choose to make an example of my company for whatever reason would would be preventing them from doing that?
- DanBC 8y ago
  EU law states this though. > If a country in the EU choose to make an example of my company for whatever reason would would be preventing them from doing that? GDPR states all fines need to be proportionate.
- vertex-four 8y ago
  Except that this has never happened before, especially to small businesses that are obviously trying to comply with the law. You have much, much bigger things to worry about as a small company. You could have your bank cut you off because you’re suddenly deemed too risky - happens every day. You could run into a contractual dispute that drags out for years and costs you tens of thousands of euros. You could violate a patent you never knew about. Your supplier goes bust just after you’ve spent weeks negotiating a large order, and now you don’t have enough inventory. You could perform some action or inaction that results in injury to someone, and your insurance could refuse to pay out. It turns out that one of the products you sell kills people, and the Government decides to take you to court over it. Your customers might fail to make good on any credit you give them. One of your key employees could develop a chronic, life-changing illness. You didn’t realise that some tax or other applied to you, and now you’re not making enough money to stay afloat. As a business owner, have you worried about any of these things as much as the GDPR?

robryan 8y ago

GDPR doesn't specifically state that though. If a country in the EU choose to make an example of my company for whatever reason would would be preventing them from doing that?

DanBC 8y ago
EU law states this though. > If a country in the EU choose to make an example of my company for whatever reason would would be preventing them from doing that? GDPR states all fines need to be proportionate.
vertex-four 8y ago
Except that this has never happened before, especially to small businesses that are obviously trying to comply with the law. You have much, much bigger things to worry about as a small company. You could have your bank cut you off because you’re suddenly deemed too risky - happens every day. You could run into a contractual dispute that drags out for years and costs you tens of thousands of euros. You could violate a patent you never knew about. Your supplier goes bust just after you’ve spent weeks negotiating a large order, and now you don’t have enough inventory. You could perform some action or inaction that results in injury to someone, and your insurance could refuse to pay out. It turns out that one of the products you sell kills people, and the Government decides to take you to court over it. Your customers might fail to make good on any credit you give them. One of your key employees could develop a chronic, life-changing illness. You didn’t realise that some tax or other applied to you, and now you’re not making enough money to stay afloat. As a business owner, have you worried about any of these things as much as the GDPR?