Blog & News

 
Registering a .ie online address is now easier and faster than ever as IE Domain Registry’s (IEDR) domain ‘liberalisation’ policy had been changed. From now on, any individual or business with a provable connection to Ireland will be able to register any available .ie domain name on a first-come, first-served basis.

Returning customers (existing .ie holders) do not have to resubmit evidence of a connection to Ireland. If returning customers (existing .ie domain holders) need to register additional .ie domain names, they can now avail of the ‘Fastpass’ registration process. With Fastpass, it is not necessary to re-submit evidence of a connection to Ireland.

• The change will transform the customer experience, making it easier and faster for individuals, businesses and community groups to register a .ie domain

• Those registering a .ie domain will no longer need a ‘claim to the name’—but they’ll still need to prove their connection to Ireland

 

• IEDR CEO: “.ie is the only online namespace in the world reserved for Irish citizens, communities and businesses. Liberalisation will allow applicants to get online with an identifiably Irish website in less time and with less hassle.”

• For any queries regarding the requirements to complete your registration, please contact with us via accounts@webworld.ie
  

.ie reflects the relationship between your online activity and Ireland. .ie websites have a guaranteed Irish connection and are most suitable to maximize your marketing efforts in Ireland.

The criteria for owning a .ie domain is stricter. Every .ie domain is verified to ensure that the people behind it are who they say they are. Learn more

As the internet evolves — so do the policies that govern the way we store and share information. One of the latest policies to come into effect is the General Data Protection Regulation. This policy, also known as GDPR, comes out of the European Union and its goal is to protect certain types of personal information. Here are a few things we thought you should know.

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, is a regulation that comes into effect May 25, 2018.  The GDPR regulates the collection, processing, transport, and use of personal information about individuals in Europe.

GDPR gives EU citizens new rights. Under the GDPR, all EU citizens will have the following rights:

1. The right of access
GDPR gives EU citizens the right to know the details of any personal data you hold about them and how that data is processed and used. As an organisation, you are obliged to provide this information on request.

2. The right to be forgotten
People also have the right to be forgotten. This means that if a person requests it, you will be required to cease the processing of any data you hold about them and delete it.

3. The right to data portability
If you hold data about anyone, they can now ask for that data to be passed to another organisation. This can make things like passing on ‘no claims’ histories from one insurer to another, much easier. However, it also means that customers can use the records you hold about them to get better deals from your competitors.

4. The right to be informed about data breaches
Some organisations have kept serious data breaches secret for months in order to protect them from bad publicity and other unwanted consequences. Now, customers have to be legally informed within 72 hours. You must also inform any supervising bodies.

5. The right to data correction
Under GDPR, any data you hold about an individual must be accurate. If it isn’t, they have the right to demand it is corrected.

Where can I get more information about GDPR and my compliance obligations?
The GDPR itself is here. The European Union has created an information portal here. A number of companies provide consulting services that help with different aspects of your compliance process.  While Web World doesn’t recommend any particular approach to GDPR compliance, your solicitor or regulatory advisor may be able to point you to resources that are helpful. In Ireland that is the Data Protection Commissioner.

The GDPR not only applies to organisations located within the EU but it will also apply to organisations located outside of the EU if they offer goods or services to, or monitor the behaviour of, EU data subjects. It applies to all companies processing and holding the personal data of data subjects residing in the European Union, regardless of the company’s location.

GDPR also brings in tougher data protection regulations for all organisations that collect and process personal data.

1. Data protection by design.
From May, organisations will be required to implement reasonable data protection measures to protect EU citizens’ personal data and privacy by design. ‘By design’ means that end to end measures need to be planned and put in place so that everything from the collection of data all the way to its safe deletion is taken into account. Part of this includes the requirement for organisations to undertake a data protection impact assessment in order to identify risks to data and outline measures to ensure those risks are addressed.

2. Creating a Data Protection Officer role
Any organisation that processes or stores sensitive data, significant amounts of personal data, or regularly monitors data subjects must create a Data Protection Officer (DPO) role within their organisation. This individual will have responsibility for overseeing data protection, privacy and GDPR compliance. All public authorities (police forces, local councils, government organisations, etc.) must also have a DPO.

3. GDPR extends beyond the EU
GDPR is designed to protect the data and privacy of EU citizens. This means any organisation that holds data on EU citizens is required to comply with the regulation, whether based in the EU or not. This will have an impact on companies like Google, eBay and Amazon that collect web data from users in the EU. It will also affect many smaller international companies that trade in the EU, for example, app-based companies, game providers and online retailers.

4. Big fines for non-compliance
The size of the fines which can be given to organisations that do not comply with GDPR is an indication of how determined the EU is to tackle issues with data protection and data privacy. From May, the maximum fine will be €20 million or 4% of an organisation’s annual global turnover, whichever is higher. This can be levied for failing to adhere to core principles of data processing, infringement of personal rights, or for transferring personal data to other countries or organisations that do not ensure an adequate level of data protection.

The issue of transferring data to countries or organisations with less adequate data protection should be a major concern for any company that has a website. If your web host has data centres outside of the EU, it is possible that the information you collect could be stored on less secure servers without your knowledge – and this could mean you are unwittingly breaching GDPR compliance. The same applies if your web host does not provide adequate security even if it is within the EU.

As of the end of February 2018, Web World has completed a “data mapping” exercise designed to identify how Web World  collects, handles, and transfers personal information that is subject to GDPR.  Based on this exercise, we have categorized data and are in the process of creating processes that will facilitate compliance with GDPR. We have determined that: