The protection of natural persons in the processing of personal data is a fundamental right. In accordance with Article 8(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (hereinafter 'the Charter') and Article 16(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), everyone has the right to the protection of personal data relating to him or her.
The principles and rules relating to the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of their personal data should ensure that their fundamental rights and freedoms and in particular their right to the protection of personal data are respected, regardless of their nationality or place of residence.
Natural persons should have control over their own data.
The principles of data protection should apply to all information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. The principles of data protection should therefore not apply to anonymous information, that is to say, information which does not relate to an identified or identifiable natural person, or personal data which has been rendered anonymous in such a way that the data subject cannot be identified or can no longer be identified........