ICO opens consultation on research and GDPR

The consultation, launched today and running until 22nd April, sets out the research provisions in the GDPR for processing personal data and confirms what does, and does not, count as research under current data laws.

The guidance in the consultation also establishes how the research provisions in the GDPR interact with the seven data protection principles, and outlines what safeguards researchers must have in place under data protection laws.

The draft guidance in the consultation focuses on archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific and historical research purposes, and statistical purposes.

The ICO said that it hoped the draft guidance would underline research’s importance to society, and ensure data protection requirements enable, rather than stifle, technological innovation and the advancement of knowledge.

An article from the ICO on the consultation can be found here, and the consultation itself is available here.