EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The GDPR gives individuals greater control over how their personal data is processed by setting out clearly defined rights and requiring organisations to demonstrate ongoing compliance with the law.
Personal data is any information that can identify an individual.
The GDPR defines personal data as:
The GDPR sets out the Principles relating to processing of personal data which state that personal data should be:
- processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject (‘lawfulness, fairness and transparency’);
- 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, in accordance with Article 89 GDPR, not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes (‘purpose limitation’);
- adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed (‘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’);
- 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 in accordance with Article 89 GDPR subject to implementation of the appropriate technical and organisational measures required by the Regulation in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the data subject (‘storage limitation’);
- 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’).
In addition, the GDPR states that organisations such as Trinity College Dublin should be responsible for, and be able to demonstrate compliance with, the Principles listed above.
A searchable version of the GDPR is available here.
The official text of the GDPR is available here.
To ensure that you are GDPR compliant in your day-to-day handling of personal data please review the Trinity College GDPR IT Checklist.