Under which circumstance can an organization lawfully process personal data without consent?

Processing personal data without consent is lawful in specific circumstances as outlined by data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). One of those circumstances is when processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation. This means that if an organization is required to process personal data to comply with a law or regulation, it can do so without needing to seek the consent of the individuals whose data is being processed. Legal obligations can include tax laws, employment laws, and other statutory requirements that mandate data processing in order to fulfill those responsibilities.

In contrast, processing personal data for marketing purposes typically requires consent, as this is considered a form of unsolicited communication that impacts a person's privacy rights. Financial benefit to the organization does not provide a valid legal basis for processing personal data without consent, as the focus should always be on the rights and freedoms of the individual. Additionally, routine monitoring by the government does not automatically grant permission for data processing without consent unless it falls under specific legal frameworks that justify such monitoring and processing.