7 key principles for the lawful processing of personal data

GDPR introduced 7 key principles for the lawful processing of personal data. This refers to the collection, organisation, structuring, storage, use, communication and the life span of personal data. These principles are at the centre of compliant processing, an essential part of GDPR to be followed by brands and organisations:

Lawfulness, Fairness and Transparency:

processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to individuals (‘lawfulness, fairness and transparency’).

Purpose Limitation:

collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes; further processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes shall not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes (‘purpose limitation’).

Accountability:

adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed (‘data minimisation’).

Data Minimisation:

accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that are inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay (‘accuracy’).

Storage Limitation:

kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed; personal data may be stored for longer periods insofar as the personal data will be processed solely for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes subject to implementation of the appropriate technical and organisational measures required by the GDPR in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals (‘storage limitation’).

Integrity and confidentiality (security):

(processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures (‘integrity and confidentiality’).