ändamålsbegränsning

ändamålsbegränsning is a legal principle that dictates that personal data should only be collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes. Once collected, the data cannot be further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those original purposes. This principle is a cornerstone of data protection laws, ensuring that individuals' information is not used in ways they did not anticipate or consent to.

The purpose limitation principle requires organizations to clearly define why they are collecting personal data at the point of collection. This definition should be communicated to the individual whose data is being collected. Subsequent processing activities must align with these stated purposes. For example, if data is collected for customer service purposes, it generally cannot be later used for marketing without a new, separate consent or a compatible legal basis.

This principle aims to prevent the "scope creep" of data usage, where data initially gathered for one reason is progressively used for other, potentially unrelated, reasons. It promotes transparency and control for individuals over their personal information. Enforcement of ändamålsbegränsning often involves data protection authorities who can investigate and penalize organizations that violate this principle. Compliance with ändamålsbegränsning is a key requirement under regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union.