Minimisation And Accuracy Of Data In The Data Protection Regulation

The principle of data minimisation is part of the principles according with which data processing is carried out. It means that a controller shall only process the data that he needs in order to reach the purposes of the processing.

The principle of data minimisation consists of three main elements:

• Adequacy of data, that is, proportionality with respect to the purposes for which they were collected
• Relevance of data with regard to the previously specified purposes
• Restriction of processing to the specific purposes outlined

Thus, the collected data must be adequate and relevant to the purpose it intends to achieve, and it cannot be collected to a greater extent than necessary. In essence, the Regulation states that there is an obligation to ensure that only strictly necessary personal data are collected for processing.