Avoid GDPR violations: frequent errors in software development

GDPR violations: Frequent errors in software development

Short: **In the digital world of today, compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is no longer an optional extra, but a basic requirement for any software that processes personal data.

**In the digital world of today, compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is no longer an optional extra, but a basic requirement for any software that processes personal data.

Violations can not only lead to sensitive fines, but also sustainably shake the confidence of users.

Many companies are aware of the risks, but in the hectic of software development mistakes are constantly being made.

This article highlights the most common case knits and shows how you can avoid them in order to develop a software conforming to GDPR from the outset. **

The legal basis: Why the GDPR is so important for developers

Short: Executive answer: **In the digital world of today, compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is no longer an optional extra, but a basic requirement for any software, the personal.

Executive answer: **In the digital world of today, compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is no longer an optional extra, but a basic requirement for any software, the personal.

For Avoid GDPR violations: frequent errors in software development, IT Security, Cost Calculator: Software Development sowie Our Development Process help you align implementation, scope and budget before you commit.

Since its entry into force in May 2018, the GDPR has redefined the rules for dealing with personal data in the European Union. For software developers, this means that data protection must be integrated from the outset into the development process. The principle “Privacy by Design” is the central guiding principle. It calls for the protection of personal data to be taken into account already in the design of a software and not to be implemented then as an additional function.

The disregard for these principles can be expensive. The fines may amount to up to EUR 20 million or 4% of the global annual turnover, depending on the amount higher.

But beyond the financial risks, it is mainly about protecting the privacy of users and the associated trust in your product and your company.

Frequent errors and how to avoid them

Short: In practice, certain errors repeatedly lead to GDPR violations.

In practice, certain errors repeatedly lead to GDPR violations. The good news is that if you know these fall knits, you can avoid them.

1. Missing or insufficient legal basis for data processing

Short: Any processing of personal data requires a clear legal basis.

Any processing of personal data requires a clear legal basis. The GDPR calls for six possible foundations, including the consent of the user, the fulfilment of a contract or a legal obligation.

A frequent error is to collect and process data without any of these conditions being met.

*So make it right: *

• Creating transparency:**Inform users clearly and understand what data you collect for what purpose.
• Release consent: If you rely on consent as a legal basis, this must be voluntary, informed, specific and unambiguous. A pre-crossed box is not sufficient here.
• Note:** Data collected may only be used for the purpose for which they were originally collected.

2. Lack of technical and organizational measures (TOM)

The GDPR requires that personal data

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Method note: External statistics refer to published industry and official data (Bitkom, Destatis) where not otherwise attributed. Company-specific figures: Groenewold IT, 2026.

References and further reading

Short: The following independent references complement the topics in this article:

The following independent references complement the topics in this article:

• Bitkom – German digital industry association
• German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
• European Commission – Digital strategy
• MDN Web Docs (Mozilla)
• W3C – World Wide Web Consortium

> "ERP programmes rarely fail on software selection; they fail on unclear process ownership."

— Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions

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