overvåkingsformål

Overvåkingsformål is a term used to describe the specific objectives for which surveillance activities collect and process personal data. Defining overvåkingsformål helps ensure that surveillance is necessary, proportionate and limited to what is required to achieve the stated aims. The purposes should be clear, legitimate, and documented before or at the time of data collection.

In the European Union and Norway, the principle of purpose limitation requires that data controllers specify the purposes for processing and restrict processing to those purposes unless further processing is compatible with them. Overvåkingsformål should be explicit and justified, and they must be reassessed if the scope of processing changes. The data controller must also ensure data minimization, transparency, and appropriate retention periods aligned with the purposes. The rights of data subjects, including information about the purposes and how their data will be used, are central to the governance of overvåkingsformål.

Common examples of overvåkingsformål include enhancing safety and security, preventing crime, enforcing workplace or policy compliance, monitoring access to premises, and protecting IT systems and assets. In public settings, surveillance aims may focus on public safety or infrastructure protection; in workplaces, they may target policy enforcement, productivity, or risk mitigation. For intrusive or large-scale measures, organizations typically conduct data protection impact assessments and seek oversight from relevant authorities to ensure that the purposes remain legitimate, necessary, and proportionate. Data subjects should be informed about the surveillance purposes and have avenues to exercise their rights where applicable.