GDPR Compliance for Self-Hosted AI: Premium Feature

💡 Premium Feature

GDPR compliance features are included in GDPR Auditing Premium (€249) and Complete Bundle (€499). Free tier includes basic data handling only. Pre-launch pricing available through Q2 2026.

Why GDPR Matters for AI Systems: The Legal Reality

If you're running AI systems that process data from EU citizens, GDPR compliance isn't optional—it's the law. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) imposes strict requirements on how you collect, process, store, and delete personal data. Non-compliance can result in fines up to €20 million or 4% of global revenue.

Self-hosted AI has a unique advantage: you control the data. Unlike cloud APIs where your data passes through third-party servers, self-hosted solutions keep everything on your infrastructure. But this also means you're responsible for compliance. rbee Premium makes this easier with built-in GDPR compliance features.

€20M

Max GDPR fine

72hrs

Breach notification

30 days

Data request response

⚠️ Disclaimer

This guide provides general information about GDPR compliance. It is not legal advice. Consult with a qualified legal professional for your specific situation.

Key GDPR Requirements for AI Systems: What You Must Know

Lawful Basis for Processing

Consent, contract, or legitimate interest required for all data processing

Data Minimization

Only collect and store data that's absolutely necessary

Right to Access (Art. 15)

Users can request all personal data within 30 days

Right to Erasure (Art. 17)

Users can request deletion of their personal data

Breach Notification (Art. 33)

Report data breaches within 72 hours to authorities

Processing Records (Art. 30)

Maintain audit trail of all data processing activities

💡 Key Takeaway

GDPR requires you to be transparent about data collection, give users control over their data, and maintain detailed records of all processing activities. Self-hosted AI gives you the infrastructure control needed to meet these requirements.

How rbee Premium Helps You Stay Compliant

rbee Premium includes several built-in features designed to make GDPR compliance easier and more automated:

Audit Logging

Complete audit trail of all data processing activities

Data Anonymization

Automatic PII redaction and user ID hashing

Right to Erasure

One-command user data deletion

Data Export

Export user data in JSON or CSV format

Retention Policies

Automatic deletion of old data

Privacy by Design

Built-in compliance from the ground up

1. Audit Logging

Every request, model inference, and data access is logged with:

Timestamp
User identifier (if applicable)
Model used
Input/output data (configurable)
Processing duration

Enable Audit Logging

# In ~/.config/rbee/config.toml
[compliance]
audit_logging = true
audit_log_path = "/var/log/rbee/audit.log"
log_inputs = false  # Set to true if you need to log prompts
log_outputs = false # Set to true if you need to log responses
retention_days = 90 # How long to keep audit logs

2. Data Retention Policies

Configure automatic deletion of old data:

Data Retention Configuration

[compliance.retention]
# Automatically delete logs older than 90 days
audit_logs = 90

# Delete model cache after 30 days of inactivity
model_cache = 30

# Delete user session data after 7 days
session_data = 7

3. Data Anonymization

rbee can automatically anonymize or pseudonymize data in logs:

Anonymization Configuration

[compliance.anonymization]
# Hash user identifiers in logs
anonymize_user_ids = true

# Redact PII from logged prompts/responses
redact_pii = true
pii_patterns = ["email", "phone", "ssn", "credit_card"]

4. Right to Erasure Support

Delete all data associated with a user:

Delete User Data

# Delete all data for a specific user
rbee compliance delete-user-data --user-id user@example.com

# Generate a report of what was deleted
rbee compliance deletion-report --user-id user@example.com

5. Data Export (Right to Access)

Export all data for a specific user:

Export User Data

# Export user data in JSON format
rbee compliance export-user-data --user-id user@example.com --format json

# Export to CSV
rbee compliance export-user-data --user-id user@example.com --format csv

Best Practices for GDPR Compliance: Implementation Guide

Privacy by Design

Build privacy into your system from the start with encryption and access controls

Clear Privacy Policy

Document what data you collect, why, how long you keep it, and user rights

Proper Consent

Use opt-in consent with clear language and easy withdrawal options

Data Protection Impact Assessment

Conduct DPIAs for high-risk processing like large-scale profiling

Data Protection Officer

Appoint a DPO if you're a public authority or process sensitive data at scale

Regular Audits

Review data processing activities, retention policies, and access logs regularly

Self-Hosted vs Cloud: GDPR Compliance Comparison

GDPR Compliance Comparison

Feature	Self-Hosted (rbee)Recommended	Cloud APIs
Data Location	Your infrastructure (full control)	Third-party servers (limited control)
Data Processor	You are the controller	Cloud provider is a processor (DPA required)
Data Transfers	No cross-border transfers (if hosted in EU)	May involve transfers to US/other countries
Audit Capability	Full audit logs, complete visibility	Limited to what provider exposes
Right to Erasure	Immediate deletion, verifiable	Depends on provider's deletion process

Common GDPR Pitfalls to Avoid: Don't Make These Mistakes

❌ Don't Do This

Storing data indefinitely: Set retention periods and delete old data
Ignoring data subject requests: Respond to access/deletion requests within 30 days
No audit trail: Keep logs of all data processing activities
Weak access controls: Limit who can access personal data
No encryption: Encrypt data at rest and in transit
Unclear privacy policy: Use plain language, not legal jargon

GDPR Compliance Checklist: Step-by-Step Implementation

💡 Compliance Checklist

☐ Identify legal basis for processing (consent, contract, legitimate interest)
☐ Create a clear privacy policy
☐ Implement audit logging
☐ Set data retention policies
☐ Enable data anonymization/pseudonymization
☐ Implement right to access (data export)
☐ Implement right to erasure (data deletion)
☐ Encrypt data at rest and in transit
☐ Implement access controls
☐ Create a data breach response plan
☐ Conduct DPIA for high-risk processing
☐ Appoint DPO (if required)
☐ Train staff on GDPR requirements

Additional Resources and References

Build GDPR-compliant AI infrastructure with rbee Premium

GDPR Auditing Premium (€249) includes audit logging, data retention, right to erasure, and PII redaction. Complete Bundle (€499) adds advanced scheduling and worker monetization. Pre-launch pricing available through Q2 2026.

💳 Unlock GDPR Premium 📚 Compliance Docs ⭐ Star on GitHub

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