Data security management and data protection for video conferencing software

Corona crisis and video conferencing software – two terms that now belong together. However, the demands controllers have on video conferencing software can quickly reach the limits of data protection regulations. In recent years, the progressive development of video conferencing software has already excited many users and led to significant growth. In ad hoc situations, like the Corona pandemic, issues regarding data protection are all too often neglected. This is fatal considering the fact that the implementation of video conferencing software is accompanied by a large number of data protection and security issues that must be addressed and weighed up by the controller. At first glance, technically feasible solutions can quickly turn out to be “Trojan horses” and pose a serious threat to personal data. Therefore, the selection, set-up and use of data protection-compliant video conferencing software is of great importance for controllers. This article aims to examine relevant questions regarding data protection and security management from a European legal perspective. In particular, the detailed analysis of the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as the practical consequences for the controller should provide practicians an overview of the legal problems associated with the implementation and use of video conferencing software.