CIPT (Certified Information Privacy Technologist) Practice

What does "purpose limitation" in data privacy refer to?

1. The restriction of data access to only authorized personnel

2. The principle that personal data should only be collected for specified, legitimate purposes

3. The requirement to delete personal data after a set period

4. The obligation to anonymize all collected data

The correct answer is: The principle that personal data should only be collected for specified, legitimate purposes

Purpose limitation refers to the principle that personal data should only be collected for specified, legitimate purposes and not be used in a manner incompatible with those purposes. This principle is foundational in data privacy frameworks, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It ensures that individuals have clarity and control over how their personal data is utilized, allowing data subjects to be informed about the reasons for data collection and preventing the misuse of their information for unforeseen or unrelated purposes. By adhering to the principle of purpose limitation, organizations demonstrate accountability and transparency in their data processing activities, reinforcing individuals' trust and confidence in how their data is handled. This principle aims to minimize the risk of excessive or inappropriate data usage, which can lead to privacy violations. In contrast, the other options refer to different aspects of data privacy: restricting data access focuses on data security, the requirement to delete data concerns data retention policies, and anonymizing collected data deals with reducing identifiability to safeguard privacy. While all these practices are important in a comprehensive data privacy strategy, they do not encapsulate the specific principle of purpose limitation.