Computer expert fears Kiwi businesses could be caught out by new far-reaching European privacy laws

In five days, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation law comes into force.

Its aimed at protecting EU citizens' privacy and at preventing data breaches.

AUT's head of computer science, Associate Professor Dave Parry, suspects many kiwi businesses are not prepared for it.

He says the maximum fine is 20 million Euros or four percent of a company's global turnover.

Dave Parry says obviously they are not going to do that to a holiday park in New Zealand.

But he says its intended as a warning for bigger businesses.