Countdown To The New EDPB Guidelines On Pseudonymisation!

Data protection under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is set to be strengthened with the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) releasing its Guidelines 01/2025 on Pseudonymisation on January 16, 2025. Currently under public consultation - Guidelines 01/2025 on Pseudonymisation | European Data Protection Board, these guidelines clarify the legal framework, scope, and technical aspects of pseudonymisation. While recognised as an effective means of enhancing data security, the EDPB highlights that pseudonymisation differs from anonymisation and does not exempt data controllers or processors from GDPR obligations.

Pseudonymisation, as defined in Article 4(5) of the GDPR ( Regulation - 2016/679 - EN - gdpr - EUR-Lex), refers to a technique that alters personal data so that it cannot be directly linked to an individual without additional, separately stored information. This typically involves replacing identifiers, such as names or ID numbers, with generated