Zielpersonen

Zielpersonen is a German term that literally translates to "target persons." In professional usage it designates individuals who are the object of a specific action, investigation, or study. The term is not tied to a single domain and can refer to suspects, persons of interest, victims, witnesses, informants, or other stakeholders depending on context. It is often used to distinguish these individuals from the general public or from those not directly involved.

In law enforcement and judicial settings, Zielpersonen are the people who form the focus of an investigation or legal proceeding. In intelligence, security, or risk assessment, the term denotes individuals targeted for surveillance, information collection, or assessment based on threat or significance. In corporate risk management or due diligence, Zielpersonen may include persons whose data or activities require scrutiny, or whose affiliations raise risk considerations. The usage carries normative weight, and the label can influence how a person is perceived within a process.

Etymology and nuance: Ziel (target) and Personen (persons). The term is context-dependent and can carry negative or neutral connotations. Privacy and human-rights frameworks emphasize fair treatment and limit processing of personal data, urging precision in labeling individuals and ensuring proportionality and consent where applicable. Overall, Zielpersonen functions as a descriptive label that is defined by the procedural or organizational context.