{
  "id": 15992336,
  "title": "Your startup is probably failing GDPR and doesn't know it — so I built a free checker",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/your-startup-is-probably-failing-gdpr-and-doesnt-know-it-so-i-built-a",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-22T03:24:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/mahiroyal804/your-startup-is-probably-failing-gdpr-and-doesnt-know-it-so-i-built-a-free-checker-2ajb"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Small businesses often find themselves struggling to understand and comply with GDPR and SOC 2 requirements. These regulations typically require big companies to rely on dedicated compliance departments and expensive platforms. However, the author sought to create a more accessible solution for small teams. The result is a free, open-source tool called AutoCompliance.\n\nAutoCompliance is a command-line interface (CLI) that asks 40 yes/no questions covering both GDPR and SOC 2 requirements. It then grades the user's compliance level from A to F and provides a prioritized list of fixes. In addition, the tool generates 15 starter documents, including a privacy policy, data processing agreement, and breach response plan. These documents are available in Markdown, HTML, or PDF formats, all generated locally without any data leaving the user's machine. The entire assessment process takes only around five minutes.\n\nIt's important to note that AutoCompliance is not a substitute for legal advice or a formal audit. Instead, it serves as a readiness self-check, providing users with a map of the requirements, gaps in their compliance, and initial drafts of necessary documents. The author encourages users to try the tool, report any missing questions, and suggest improvements. The source code can be found on GitHub: https://github.com/Mahiroyal804/autocompliance.",
  "summary": "The moment usually goes like this: a customer emails \"can you sign our DPA and send your SOC 2 report?\" — and everyone on the team goes quiet. Big companies answer that email with a compliance department and a platform that costs more than your server bill. Small teams answer it with a spreadsheet, a Notion page, and hope. I wanted a third option: a free tool that tells a small team, in plain…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}