By José Vega and Amy Puckett ( November 6, 2017, 1:12 PM EST) -- What began as a tremor on April 27, 2016, has the potential to become a truly seismic event on May 25, 2018. For those involved in data privacy, these dates may sound familiar. On April 27, 2016, the European Union adopted the General Data Protection Regulation, which replaces the Data Protection Directive and comprehensively strengthens the data protection rights of all EU residents. The GDPR becomes effective on May 25, 2018, but few companies sufficiently meet compliance criteria. While many aspects of the GDPR may be causing consternation in boardrooms around the world, one particularly innovative provision could benefit individuals and businesses alike by leveling the competitive playing field — the right to data portability....