We are aware of the issue with the badge emails resending to everyone, we apologise for the inconvenience - learn more here.

Forum Discussion

TomMacD89's avatar
TomMacD89
Explorer | Level 3
7 years ago

GDPR Compliance for Personal / Free Accounts

Hi,

I work with various charities in the UK who often use free Dropbox accounts to share files for boards of trustees, teams etc.

There is some confusion as to whether the GDPR compliance steps that Dropbox have made apply to these accounts or only to those on Dropbox Business.

Could this be clarified please?
  • Hi Tom

    As somebody in the UK the biggest thing you need to make sure is that the end users whos data is being stored is aware of it being stored AND that it is stored outside of the EU. Same goes if they email things in they need to know where those email servers are (e.g. Office365 = USA etc.).
  • Norah's avatar
    Norah
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
     
    Hi TomMacD89, thanks for checking in!
     
    Dropbox will meet the requirements of the GDPR by May 25, 2018 as required across all its services, including Dropbox Basic, Plus, Professional, and Business.
     
    You can read about our GDPR preparation, as well as our approach to safeguarding your data at our GDPR guidance center.
     
    I hope this helps!
    • aukevn's avatar
      aukevn
      Helpful | Level 7

      Hi Norah,

       

      The information given here confuses me. Your product support told me I need to upgrade from a personal account to a business account to comply with the GDPR and have the proper agreement in place. Can you please clarify if this is indeed necessary? We share sensitive data with hundreds partners, most of whom are very small (one person) businesses. I need to know if their free or personal accounts will be compliant to the GDPR.

       

      Kind regards,

      Auke

      • Mark's avatar
        Mark
        Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
        Have you read the links supplied Aukevn?

        It depends who you need Dropbox to be doing in order for you to decide if it is compliant or not. Dropbox on its own IS compliant because of how the data is stored etc. But, if you deem you need additional controls (maybe access logs etc.) then you will need a higher package than a Free or Personal account.
    • Mark's avatar
      Mark
      Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
      Hi Tom

      As somebody in the UK the biggest thing you need to make sure is that the end users whos data is being stored is aware of it being stored AND that it is stored outside of the EU. Same goes if they email things in they need to know where those email servers are (e.g. Office365 = USA etc.).
    • SouthHams's avatar
      SouthHams
      New member | Level 2

      I am involved in a similar charity organisation.  I am concerned about the location of the files I hace containing personal information.  From the ICO website I note the following

       

      "At a glance

      The GDPR imposes restrictions on the transfer of personal data outside the European Union, to third countries or international organisations.

      These restrictions are in place to ensure that the level of protection of individuals afforded by the GDPR is not undermined.

      In brief When can personal data be transferred outside the European Union?

      Personal data may only be transferred outside of the EU in compliance with the conditions for transfer set out in Chapter V of the GDPR."

       

      Could you give guidance Please

       

      SouthHams

      • aukevn's avatar
        aukevn
        Helpful | Level 7

        Our legal advisor tells us storing outside the US is not the issue, as long as they comply with the GDPR and provide a DPA

  • Sigrid2's avatar
    Sigrid2
    New member | Level 2

    From what I understand my business account will need to sign a DPA with Dropbox to fullfill the new GDPR-legislation? Other platforms such as MailChimp has made this easy, but I can not find any information about signing this agreement on this site? 

     

     

  • AnitaP's avatar
    AnitaP
    New member | Level 2

    Hi

    I currently store client information I work on via my Dropbox Plus account. Please would you confirm that Dropbox Plus meets the GDPR criteria that everyone is rushing to comply with at the moment? I understand that Dropbox Business is, but it is not expressly stated that my files in the Plus account would be treated in the same secure way. I do not need a Business account as the Plus account serves my needs.

    Please would you confirm that the data storage services you offer on Dropbox Plus comply with the EU/US Privacy Shield?

    • Mark's avatar
      Mark
      Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
      Hi Anita

      Have a look at https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Sharing-and-collaboration/GDPR-Compliance-for-Personal-Free-Accounts/m-p/275027#M19691

      Dropbox IS GDPR compliant, but, like most of this stuff its based upon your own Risk Assessments.

      I am using Dropbox to store information on my business (swim school enrolments, first aid course records and employee information) and have been told as long as I am clear with the customers and clients where and how I store it that is fine. It is the same with emails (think Office365/Hotmail or Gmail) as you'll never get them to send you a personal contract of compliance. There has to be a bit of common sense applied to things.

      My legal and HR teams are quite happy with the continued use of Dropbox based upon its updated Safe Harbour compliance and, as I said above, informing people what I do with their data.
  • Persondatakonsu's avatar
    Persondatakonsu
    New member | Level 2

    Hello

    I can't see if you have answered this before:

    In our organisation we use DropBox to store personal information (ordinary and more sensitive information).

    I think that with should have a DPA with DropBox in order to assure compliance with the GDPR? 

    I hope to get an answer asap.

    Br

    • meldud60's avatar
      meldud60
      Explorer | Level 3

      I run a small dance school and just want to share files with the parents of the students. None of it passes on personal data. BUT sharing files means that everyone can see everyone elses email address. Is there a way to turn this off? I sure can't find a way and I am pretty sure that will make it non GDPR compliant for me. 

       

      Are there other systems than Dropbox that file sharing can take place?

       

       

       

      • louisebeattie's avatar
        louisebeattie
        Helpful | Level 5
        pCloud will be implementing a DPA, Tresorit, I believe Google Drive but don't know for sure.
  • BradJohnson's avatar
    BradJohnson
    Helpful | Level 6

    I'm really confused about all that GDPR stuff...Dropbox said they comply, but for any other big site I have a full cookie consent - not just telling me that if I continue using the site I agree with everything! I have specifically to agree - for example I may choose I don't want to be tracked by pixels, analytics and so on, but to accept only cookies, needed for site functionality.

     

    Then, when I login my account I don't have any GDPR agreement to accept, nothing!

     

    I can't see where to manage what information I allow to be shared?

     

    Could you someone explain this, maybe from Dropbox stuff....

     

     

    Thanks!

    • aukevn's avatar
      aukevn
      Helpful | Level 7

      Yes it is confusing, but cookies is a seperate issue from what is discussed here. Yes Dropbox should warn you if they use them but if they don't, that is their responsibility.

      But if you run a business and you store personal data on a platform such as Dropbox, you need a Data Processing Agreement. Dropbox apprently likes its large customers better than the small ones, as they only offer it if you take a Business Account with a minimum of 3 users. So everybody else should move the personal data away from Dropbox, else your company does not comply with de GDPR. 

       

      Yes, Dropbox states that they comply to the regulations, what they mean is that if you are a private customer they comply. But if you are a small business users and you can't afford to buy a Business Account with 3 users for 30 euro a month, then Dropbox free and Personal accounts don't comply.

       

  • Thomas Riesler SFF's avatar
    Thomas Riesler SFF
    New member | Level 2

    Hi,

     

    I´d like to raise the question regarding the accessibility to DropBox' EU/EES servers for really small businesses, like one person. As I understand it DB has made it possible for 10-licens business to use this option. But...

     

    When will professional one person/licens users be able to use DropBox in a legal way when conducting business within the EU/EES with regards to GDPR?

About Create, upload, and share

Find help to solve issues with creating, uploading, and sharing files and folders in Dropbox. Get support and advice from the Dropbox Community.

Need more support

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!