What is required for data to be considered processed lawfully?

For data to be considered processed lawfully, it is essential that the processing aligns with established legal frameworks. This means that any data handling activities must meet the criteria set forth in relevant laws and regulations, such as obtaining valid consent from the data subject, adhering to principles of data minimization, ensuring that processing is necessary for a specific purpose, and providing transparency about how the data will be used. Legal frameworks often stipulate the rights of individuals regarding their personal data, as well as the obligations of organizations that handle this data.

Collecting data from multiple sources or sharing data with third parties do not inherently guarantee lawful processing; rather, these actions may introduce additional requirements or risks under privacy laws. Encryption is a security measure that protects data but does not determine the legality of its processing. Therefore, compliance with legal frameworks is the cornerstone of determining lawful data processing.