Chatbots are the latest emerging technologies used by organizations to improve customer service and reduce costs. Most companies today have deployed chatbots in various messaging apps, websites and portals to provide the first line of service and self-help to customers. With the advent of GDPR, companies are required to follow the strict guidelines prescribed by it while dealing with sensitive customer data and these rules apply for the company's chatbots as well. However, users still share their data with a bot via conversations. Bottomline – ensuring your chatbot is GDPR compliant is mandatory if your customers are citizens of the European Union.

Let's face it, any technology that lets us skip a step is a welcome move. But, since these features often collect and use massive amounts of very personal information, there will always be that nagging question on just how is it being used. That question was what dragged Facebook to the court in April this year after it was discovered the digital behemoth was using facial data without user consent. Apparently, Facebook had resorted to using "face templates" in its tag suggestions without letting anyone know. The debacle has worked as a sort of a warning shot to other companies that utilize biometric data to deliver services.

Only one month left until the GDPR will take effect and people are already freaking out. If you haven't made yourself familiar with this topic, you need to do it now! This article will give you a summary of what you need to know and provide you with steps to make your chatbots GDPR compliant. The GDPR will replace the given Data Protection Directive in the European Union. It is designed to harmonize data privacy law across Europe and will give more protection to individuals. It defines how E.U. citizens' data must be handled and will gain regulatory on the 25th of May 2018.

You may perhaps have become aware of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The office of the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, via business briefings and media advertising, is increasingly highlighting this new European Union regulation, which comes into effect on May 25th. The GDPR preamble asserts: "The protection of natural persons in relation to the processing of personal data is a fundamental right." The key theme is that each of us owns our own data. Any company must therefore explicitly request permission to use any of our personal data, explaining why it would like to do so, and for how long.