Privatlivsbalans

Privatlivsbalans is the Danish term for the balancing act between an individual’s right to private life and legitimate societal interests when personal data is collected, stored, or processed. The concept is used in policy discussions, law, and ethics to describe how privacy should be protected while enabling beneficial uses of information.

The legal framework for privatlivsbalans is anchored in the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Danish Data Protection Act, supported by constitutional protections. Core principles include necessity, proportionality, transparency, consent where appropriate, and data minimization. In practice, intrusions into privacy must be justified, limited in scope, and subject to oversight.

Scope encompasses digital life, the workplace, and public administration. In digital contexts, it covers online tracking, profiling, cookies, and data sharing by apps and platforms. In the workplace, it concerns monitoring, access to communications, and data retention. In public services, it relates to data sharing for welfare benefits, law enforcement, and public safety. In health and education, it involves safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring appropriate handling.

Rights and duties under privatlivsbalans include individuals’ rights to access, correction, deletion, objection or restriction of processing, and redress. Organizations are expected to implement privacy by design, conduct data protection impact assessments when necessary, and cooperate with authorities such as the Danish Data Protection Agency (Datatilsynet).

Ongoing developments in AI, data analytics, and digital ecosystems continue to shape debates about where privatlivsbalans should lie, seeking to harmonize privacy protections with innovation and security.