töötlejate

Töötlejate is the Estonian plural genitive form of the noun töötleja, which denotes a person or organization that performs processing tasks. The term is used across contexts to refer to those who carry out processing of data, materials, or information, and it can describe both individuals and corporate entities. In everyday usage, töötleja can mean an operator, handler, or processor, depending on the context.

In data protection and legal contexts, töötlejate often corresponds to the English term “data processors.” Under European and Estonian law, a data processor is an entity that processes personal data on behalf of a data controller, rather than determining the purposes and means of processing. The plural form töötlejate appears in formulations such as “töötlejate kohustused,” referring to the responsibilities of the processors.

Key obligations associated with töödlejate include processing personal data only on documented instructions from the controller, maintaining appropriate security measures, and assisting the controller in fulfilling data subject rights and regulatory compliance. A data processing agreement typically governs the relationship between a controller and töötlejate, outlining processing details, security requirements, and breach notification procedures.

Outside the data protection framework, töötlejate can also describe workers or operators in manufacturing and service settings who perform processing steps on inputs to produce outputs, such as factory operators, machine attendants, or service processors.

Examples of töötlejate include cloud service providers processing customer data on behalf of clients, payroll or HR outsourcing firms processing employee data, and manufacturing contractors handling material processing tasks. The exact meaning depends on context, with data protection emphasizing the on-behalf-of relationship to a controller.