What is a GDPR-compliant chatbot?
A GDPR-compliant chatbot is a chatbot that a business can use while meeting the EU's General Data Protection Regulation: it handles personal data only for clear purposes, under a data processing agreement, with proper security and respect for people's rights over their data.
Also called: GDPR chatbot, privacy-friendly chatbot, EU-compliant AI chatbot.
By Santhul Joseph, AI EngineerUpdated
What to check before you choose one
- A data processing agreement (DPA) between you and the chatbot vendor.
- Where conversations and files are hosted, and which other companies (subprocessors) handle the data.
- How long conversations are kept, and whether you can delete them.
- How you will handle access and deletion requests from customers.
- That your privacy notice tells visitors a chatbot is used and what it collects.
Compliance is shared
No tool is GDPR compliant on its own. The vendor is responsible for processing data securely and only on your instructions. You decide what the chatbot collects, why, and for how long, and you answer to your customers for it.
A dental clinic that asks for a name and phone number to book an appointment has a clear reason. Asking for medical details in a chat is a bigger step. This page is general information, not legal advice, so check your own setup with your own adviser.
The SimplyBoost approach
- SimplyBoost is hosted in Europe.
- The company is registered in the Netherlands and based in Utrecht.
- A data processing agreement is available at /dpa.
- Legal and data-protection requests in a conversation trigger a handover, so a person on your team handles them.
- Lead capture asks for contact details during the conversation, after the agent has helped.
Questions people ask
Is an AI chatbot allowed under the GDPR?
Yes. The GDPR doesn't ban chatbots; it sets rules for the personal data they handle. With a DPA, a clear purpose and an honest privacy notice, many businesses use one. Check with your own adviser for your situation.
Does the chatbot need to be hosted in the EU?
The GDPR doesn't strictly require it, but transfers outside the EU need extra safeguards, so many European businesses prefer a tool hosted in Europe. SimplyBoost is hosted in Europe.
Who is responsible if something goes wrong?
Usually both sides have duties: you as the business deciding what is collected, and the vendor as the processor handling it for you. The DPA sets out who does what.