View source for Article 2 GDPR

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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 1: General provisions</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 1 GDPR|Article 1: Subject-matter and objectives]]<br />
[[Article 2 GDPR|Article 2: Material scope]]<br />
[[Article 3 GDPR|Article 3: Territorial scope]]<br />
[[Article 4 GDPR|Article 4: Definitions]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 2: Principles</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5: Principles relating to processing of personal data]]<br />
[[Article 6 GDPR|Article 6: Lawfulness of processing]]<br />
[[Article 7 GDPR|Article 7: Conditions for consent]]<br />
[[Article 8 GDPR|Article 8: Conditions applicable to child’s consent in relation to information society services]]<br />
[[Article 9 GDPR|Article 9: Processing of special categories of personal data]]<br />
[[Article 10 GDPR|Article 10: Processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences]]<br />
[[Article 11 GDPR|Article 11: Processing which does not require identification]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 3: Rights of the data subject</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 12 GDPR|Article 12: Transparent information, communication and modalities for the exercise of the rights of the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 13 GDPR|Article 13: Information to be provided where personal data are collected from the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 14 GDPR|Article 14: Information to be provided where personal data have not been obtained from the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 15 GDPR|Article 15: Right of access by the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 16 GDPR|Article 16: Right to rectification]]<br />
[[Article 17 GDPR|Article 17: Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’)]]<br />
[[Article 18 GDPR|Article 18: Right to restriction of processing]]<br />
[[Article 19 GDPR|Article 19: Notification obligation regarding rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing]]<br />
[[Article 20 GDPR|Article 20: Right to data portability]]<br />
[[Article 21 GDPR|Article 21: Right to object]]<br />
[[Article 22 GDPR|Article 22: Automated individual decision-making, including profiling]]<br />
[[Article 23 GDPR|Article 23: Restrictions]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 4: Controller and processor</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 24 GDPR|Article 24: Responsibility of the controller]]<br />
[[Article 25 GDPR|Article 25: Data protection by design and by default]]<br />
[[Article 26 GDPR|Article 26: Joint controllers]]<br />
[[Article 27 GDPR|Article 27: Representatives of controllers or processors not established in the Union]]<br />
[[Article 28 GDPR|Article 28: Processor]]<br />
[[Article 29 GDPR|Article 29: Processing under the authority of the controller or processor]]<br />
[[Article 30 GDPR|Article 30: Records of processing activities]]<br />
[[Article 31 GDPR|Article 31: Cooperation with the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 32 GDPR|Article 32: Security of processing]]<br />
[[Article 33 GDPR|Article 33: Notification of a personal data breach to the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 34 GDPR|Article 34: Communication of a personal data breach to the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 35 GDPR|Article 35: Data protection impact assessment]]<br />
[[Article 36 GDPR|Article 36: Prior consultation]]<br />
[[Article 37 GDPR|Article 37: Designation of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 38 GDPR|Article 38: Position of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 39 GDPR|Article 39: Tasks of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 40 GDPR|Article 40: Codes of conduct]]<br />
[[Article 41 GDPR|Article 41: Monitoring of approved codes of conduct]]<br />
[[Article 42 GDPR|Article 42: Certification]]<br />
[[Article 43 GDPR|Article 43: Certification bodies]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 5: Transfers of personal data</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 44 GDPR|Article 44: General principle for transfers]]<br />
[[Article 45 GDPR|Article 45: Transfers on the basis of an adequacy decision]]<br />
[[Article 46 GDPR|Article 46: Transfers subject to appropriate safeguards]]<br />
[[Article 47 GDPR|Article 47: Binding corporate rules]]<br />
[[Article 48 GDPR|Article 48: Transfers or disclosures not authorised by Union law]]<br />
[[Article 49 GDPR|Article 49: Derogations for specific situations]]<br />
[[Article 50 GDPR|Article 50: International cooperation for the protection of personal data]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 6: Supervisory authorities</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 51 GDPR|Article 51: Supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 52 GDPR|Article 52: Independence]]<br />
[[Article 53 GDPR|Article 53: General conditions for the members of the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 54 GDPR|Article 54: Rules on the establishment of the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 55 GDPR|Article 55: Competence]]<br />
[[Article 56 GDPR|Article 56: Competence of the lead supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 57 GDPR|Article 57: Tasks]]<br />
[[Article 58 GDPR|Article 58: Powers]]<br />
[[Article 59 GDPR|Article 59: Activity reports]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 7: Cooperation and consistency</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 60 GDPR|Article 60: Cooperation between the lead supervisory authority and the other supervisory authorities concerned]]<br />
[[Article 61 GDPR|Article 61: Mutual assistance]]<br />
[[Article 62 GDPR|Article 62: Joint operations of supervisory authorities]]<br />
[[Article 63 GDPR|Article 63: Consistency mechanism]]<br />
[[Article 64 GDPR|Article 64: Opinion of the Board]]<br />
[[Article 65 GDPR|Article 65: Dispute resolution by the Board]]<br />
[[Article 66 GDPR|Article 66: Urgency procedure]]<br />
[[Article 67 GDPR|Article 67: Exchange of information]]<br />
[[Article 68 GDPR|Article 68: European Data Protection Board]]<br />
[[Article 69 GDPR|Article 69: Independence]]<br />
[[Article 70 GDPR|Article 70: Tasks of the Board]]<br />
[[Article 71 GDPR|Article 71: Reports]]<br />
[[Article 72 GDPR|Article 72: Procedure]]<br />
[[Article 73 GDPR|Article 73: Chair]]<br />
[[Article 74 GDPR|Article 74: Tasks of the Chair]]<br />
[[Article 75 GDPR|Article 75: Secretariat]]<br />
[[Article 76 GDPR|Article 76: Confidentiality]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 8: Remedies, liability and penalties</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 77 GDPR|Article 77: Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 78 GDPR|Article 78: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 79 GDPR|Article 79: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a controller or processor]]<br />
[[Article 80 GDPR|Article 80: Representation of data subjects]]<br />
[[Article 81 GDPR|Article 81: Suspension of proceedings]]<br />
[[Article 82 GDPR|Article 82: Right to compensation and liability]]<br />
[[Article 83 GDPR|Article 83: General conditions for imposing administrative fines]]<br />
[[Article 84 GDPR|Article 84: Penalties]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 9: Specific processing situations</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 85 GDPR|Article 85: Processing and freedom of expression and information]]<br />
[[Article 86 GDPR|Article 86: Processing and public access to official documents]]<br />
[[Article 87 GDPR|Article 87: Processing of the national identification number]]<br />
[[Article 88 GDPR|Article 88: Processing in the context of employment]]<br />
[[Article 89 GDPR|Article 89: Safeguards and derogations relating to processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes]]<br />
[[Article 90 GDPR|Article 90: Obligations of secrecy]]<br />
[[Article 91 GDPR|Article 91: Existing data protection rules of churches and religious associations]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 10: Delegated and implementing acts</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 92 GDPR|Article 92: Exercise of the delegation]]<br />
[[Article 93 GDPR|Article 93: Committee procedure]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 11: Final provisions</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 94 GDPR|Article 94: Repeal of Directive 95: /46: /EC]]<br />
[[Article 95 GDPR|Article 95: Relationship with Directive 20: 02: /58: /EC]]<br />
[[Article 96 GDPR|Article 96: Relationship with previously concluded Agreements]]<br />
[[Article 97 GDPR|Article 97: Commission reports]]<br />
[[Article 98 GDPR|Article 98: Review of other Union legal acts on data protection]]<br />
[[Article 99 GDPR|Article 99: Entry into force and application]]<br />
</small>
</div>
</div>
|}

==Legal Text==
<br /><center>'''Article 2 - Material scope'''</center>

<span id="1">1. This Regulation applies to the [[Article 4 GDPR#2|processing]] of [[Article 4 GDPR#2|personal data]] wholly or partly by automated means and to the processing other than by automated means of personal data which form part of a filing system or are intended to form part of a filing system.</span>

<span id="2">2. This Regulation does not apply to the processing of personal data:</span>

::<span id="2a">(a) in the course of an activity which falls outside the scope of Union law;</span>

::<span id="2b">(b) by the Member States when carrying out activities which fall within the scope of Chapter 2 of Title V of the TEU;</span>

::<span id="2c">(c) by a natural person in the course of a purely personal or household activity;</span>

::<span id="2d">(d) by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, including the safeguarding against and the prevention of threats to public security.</span>

<span id="3">3. For the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 applies. Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and other Union legal acts applicable to such processing of personal data shall be adapted to the principles and rules of this Regulation in accordance with Article 98.</span>

<span id="4">4. This Regulation shall be without prejudice to the application of Directive 2000/31/EC, in particular of the liability rules of intermediary service providers in Articles 12 to 15 of that Directive.</span>

==Relevant Recitals==
{{Recital/13 GDPR}}{{Recital/14 GDPR}}{{Recital/15 GDPR}}{{Recital/16 GDPR}}{{Recital/17 GDPR}}{{Recital/18 GDPR}}{{Recital/19 GDPR}}{{Recital/20 GDPR}}{{Recital/21 GDPR}}{{Recital/27 GDPR}}

==Commentary==
Article 2 GDPR sets out the material scope of the GDPR. Paragraph 1 clarifies that the Regulation applies to any processing of personal data by automated means or to the non-automated processing of personal data that is or is intended to be stored in a filing system. Paragraph 2 provides for exemptions that exclude the applicability of the GDPR, such as data processing relating to activities outside the scope of European law or relating to purely personal or domestic activities. Paragraph 3 confirms the validity of sector-specific data protection laws for the processing carried out by European institutions provided that these regulations are brought into compliance with the GDPR. Finally, Paragraph 4 clarifies that the rules of Directive 2000/31/EC are not affected by the provisions of the GDPR. 

=== (1) Material Scope ===
The Regulation applies to any processing of personal data by automated means or to the non-automated processing of personal data that is, or is intended to be, stored in a filing system. 

==== Processing ====
The term "''processing''" is defined, and further discussed, in [[Article 4 GDPR|Article 4(2) GDPR]]. In general, "processing" includes any operation or set of operations performed on personal data. This includes everything from collection to storage and deletion. As long as personal data exists, it is usually also processed.<blockquote><u>Example:</u> A company is processing information about customers in a digital spread sheet. While the entering of personal data and most use is analogue, the storage in the spread sheet is processing by automated means.</blockquote>

==== Personal Data ====
The material scope requires the data in question to be "''personal data''". This term is defined, and further discussed, in [[Article 4 GDPR|Article 4(1) GDPR]].  

Any information that relates to an identified or identifiable natural person falls under the GDPR, this also includes so-called [[Article 4 GDPR|"''pseudonymised data''"]]. However, truly anonymous data and data not relating to a person is not regulated by the GDPR. <blockquote><u>Example:</u> A company runs two databases. The first database holds information to manage machines in a production plant, there is no information relating to people. The second database holds information on employees. Only the second database falls under the GDPR. </blockquote>

==== Option 1: Processing Wholly or Partly by Automated Means ====
The expression "''automated means''" is not defined in the GDPR. It should be understood broadly as including all procedures in which at least part of the data processing is carried out automatically.<ref>''Bäcker,'' in Wolff, Brink, BeckOK Datenschutzrecht, Article 2 GDPR, margin number 2 (C.H. Beck 2021, 38th edition) or Kühling/Raab in Kühling/Buchner, DSGVO, Article 2 GDPR, margin number 15 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd edition).</ref>

The data processing must be ''fully'' or ''partially'' automated. The GDPR does not define the type of automation further, and instead takes a technology neutral approach. A data processing activity is understood as partially automated when it is carried out partly manually and partly automatically. For example, when personal data is manually entered into a digital database, or if several data processing operations, some of which are carried out manually and some of which are automated, are sufficiently closely linked in a logical process.<ref>''Bäcker,'' in Wolff, Brink, BeckOK Datenschutzrecht, Article 2 GDPR, margin number 3 (C.H. Beck 2021, 38th edition).</ref> In practice, this means that any processing of personal data in a digital format must be seen as automated means and usually falls under the GDPR. This gives the GDPR a very wide scope.<blockquote><u>Example:</u> A company is processing information about customers in a digital spread sheet. While the entering of personal data and most use is analogue, the storage in the spread sheet is processing by automated means.</blockquote>

==== Option 2: Part of a Filing System ====
Additionally, the GDPR applies to non-automated processing of personal data if the personal data forms part of a filing system, or is intended for this purpose. In other words, if the data is intended as part of a filing system, but is not processed by automated means, the collection of such data will constitute a processing operation even before it is organized into a filing system. The concept of "filing system" is defined in [[Article 4 GDPR|Article 4(6)]] GDPR and consists of any structured set of personal data which are accessible according to specific criteria.  <blockquote><u>Example:</u> A doctor writes health information onto a form. The form is stored in the hospital's old paper filing system, where each patient papers are stored according to surname and first name of the patient. </blockquote>While paper filing systems are largely replaced by automated systems, they still exist for historic files and in certain contexts, such as the health care system, public registries or legal archives. The GDPR continues to protect personal data in such filing systems, as they were traditionally covered by European data protection laws, such as Directive 95/46/EC. 

The concept of a ‘filing system’ under the Directive 95/46/EC has been considered by the [[CJEU - C‑25/17 - Tietosuojavaltuutettu|CJEU in C-25/17 ''Jehovan todistajat'']] (also known as "Jehovah’s Witness"). In this case, the Jehovah’s Witness Community used a from to collect or process personal data in the course of their door-to-door preaching, without adhering to the applicable data protection law.<ref>CJEU, Case C-25/17, ''Jehovan todistajat'', 10 July 2018, (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=198949&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=70631 here]).</ref> The processing of the personal data was not carried out by automated means, so the question arose as to whether the data processed formed part of, or was intended to form part of, a filing system. The Court accepted a broad definition of filing system by pointing out that the Directive (as the GDPR now)<ref>The GDPR definition restates the Article 2(c) Directive 95/46/EC definition of the notion ''verbatim''. ''Tosoni'', in Kuner, Bygrave, Docksey, The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): A Commentary, Article 4(6) GDPR, p. 140 (Oxford University Press 2020).</ref> does not put down any specific requirement in term of its structure or form.<ref>In particular, the Directive did not foresee that the “''the personal data at issue must be contained in data sheets or specific lists or in another search method, in order to establish the existence of a filing system''”. In that case, the records created by the Jehovah’s Community were collected as a memory aid and included name, surname and geographical position in order to facilitate the organisation’s subsequent visits.</ref> The Court concluded that the definition of “filing system” is fulfilled when “''data are structured according to specific criteria which, in practice, enable them to be easily retrieved for subsequent use. In order for such a set of data to fall within that concept, it is not necessary that they include data sheets, specific lists or other search methods''”.<ref>CJEU, Case C-25/17, ''Jehovan todistajat'', 10 July 2018, margin number 62 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=203822&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=747904 here]). Also see Opinion of Advocate General Kokott, 8 May 2008, Sautmedia, C‑73/07, margin number 34 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=F087BE2C7DF508FA67FED22A4E923E46?text=&docid=67007&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=70631 here]); Opinion of Advocate General Sharpston, 15 October 2009, Commission v Bavarian Lager, C-28/08 P, margin numbers 117-128 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=72502&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=70631 here]); Opinion of Advocate General Kokott, 20 July 2017, Nowak, C-434/16, margin number 69 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=193042&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=70631 here]); Opinion of Advocate General Mengozzi, 1 February 2018, Jehovan todistajat, C-25/17, margin numbers 53-59 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=198949&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=70631 here]).</ref>

=== (2) Exemptions ===
If the elements in Article 2(1) are fulfilled, the GDPR applies unless the processing falls under one of the exemptions named in Article 2(2)(a) to (d) GDPR. 

==== (a) Activities which Fall Outside the Scope of Union Law ====
The first category of exemptions relates to processing for activities "''which [fall] outside the scope of Union law''".<ref>The competences of the Union are set out in the EU treaties. In particular, Title 1 of the TFEU sets out the exclusive competence of the Union. While the competences of the EU are carefully shared between Member States and the EU, the GDPR simply differentiates between non-Union law and Union law.</ref> This paragraph is more of a clarification that the EU does not overstep its jurisdiction. The wording is not particularly helpful because it is not immediately apparent what the "''scope of Union law''" is. However, this provision has very limited impact in practice, as almost any commercial activity falls within the scope of Union law. 

One of the main competences of the European Union is to establish an internal market in which, among other things, the free flow of data is guaranteed. It follows that all data processing activities, whether directly or indirectly related to this purpose, are covered under Union law (and therefore excluded from this exemption). As such, processing activities carried out by individuals and companies will almost always be regulated by Union law (insofar as they are useful or instrumental to the internal market) and therefore by the GDPR.  

Under Article 4(2) TFEU “''national security remains the sole responsibility of the individual Member States''”. Thus, all activities related to national security, such as data processing by intelligence services, are excluded from the scope of EU law. Recital 16 confirms this interpretation and adds that the following are also excluded from the scope of the Regulation “''the processing of personal data by the Member States when carrying out activities in relation to the common foreign and security policy of the Union''” (see subsection (b) below). 

==== (b) EU Common Foreign and Security Policy ====
Article 2(2)(b) excludes the applicability of the GDPR for the processing of personal data carried out by the Member States when performing activities as part of the Union’s common foreign and security policy (see Chapter 2 of Title V of the TEU). More precisely, according to Article 39 TEU, the Council shall adopt a decision laying down the rules relating to the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Member States when carrying out such activities. These rules have not yet been adopted. However, Articles 7 (respect for private and family life) and 8 (data protection) of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights remain applicable.<ref>''Bäcker'', in Wolff, Brink, BeckOK Datenschutzrecht, Article 2 GDPR, margin number 11 (C.H. Beck 2020, 38th edition).</ref>

==== (c) Processing by a Natural Person in the Course of Purely Personal or Household Activity ====
Article 2(2)(c) GDPR reaffirms the so-called “household exemption” which already existed under Directive EC/95/46. According to this provision, the GDPR does not apply where processing is carried out by a natural person for purely personal or household activities, where they would otherwise be controllers and would have to fully comply with the GDPR.  

As private individuals engage in more and more data processing operations, this exception becomes increasingly relevant. On the one hand an individual publishing information online became a rather common phenomenon - on the other hand it may be more damaging to have personal details exposed on a popular platform than to have it stored in a rather irrelevant commercial database. Given that everyone has a fundamental right to privacy and data protection under Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter, the European legislator has chosen a rather narrow exemption for private individuals. 

===== Natural person =====
In order for the exemption to apply, it is essential that the processing be performed by a “''natural person''”. Thus, processing by legal entities, whatever legal form they may have (including NGOs, Foundations, Trusts and alike), is not covered by the exemption and remains subject to the GDPR, even if they do not pursue any commercial interest.<ref>''Paal,'' in Paal, Pauly, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 2 GDPR, margin number 14 (C.H. Beck 2021, 3<sup>rd</sup> edition).</ref>

===== Purely Personal or Household Activities =====
The GDPR does not provide a specific definition of “''personal''” and “''household''” activities. The definition is clearly narrower than the European "''consumer''" definition, hence consumers can be controllers or processors that have to fully comply with the GDPR, if they process personal data beyond a purely personal or household activity. In addition to personal activities a household activity may allow processing that goes beyond one individual, such as a commonly used computer or software within a household. 

However, different factors to distinguish the “private” from the “non-private” can be drawn out from the existing case-law:

* According to [[CJEU - C‑25/17 - Tietosuojavaltuutettu|CJEU in C-25/17 ''Jehovan todistajat'']] (also known as "Jehovah’s Witness"), these requirements must be interpreted as covering only activities that are carried out in the context of the private or family life of individuals. In that connection, “''an activity cannot be regarded as being purely personal or domestic where its purpose is to make the data collected accessible to an unrestricted number of people or where that activity extends, even partially, to a public space and is accordingly directed outwards from the private setting of the person processing the data in that manner''”.<ref>CJEU, Case C-25/17, ''Jehovan todistajat'', 10 July 2018, margin number 42 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=203822&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=747904 here]).; in the same direction CJEU, Case C-73/07, ''Satakunnan Markkinapörssi and Satamedia,'' 16 December 2008, margin number 44 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=76075&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=757578 here]).</ref> 
* According to [[CJEU - C-101/01 - Bodil Lindqvist|C-101/01, ''Bodil Lindqvist'']], the publication of personal data on a blogging site made available to an unlimited number of people would 'obviously' not be subject to the household exemption.<ref>CJEU, C-101/01, ''Lindqvist'', 6 November 2003, margin number 47 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=48382&pageIndex=0&doclang=de&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=758205 here]).</ref> 
* This interpretation was confirmed by the Court in [[CJEU - C‑212/13 - František Ryneš|C-212/12 ''Ryneš'']], where it took a narrow view of the exemption. Indeed, a camera system installed on a family home for the purposes of protecting the property was not considered to fall under the exemption insofar as it also recorded a public space.<ref>CJEU, Case C-212/13, ''Ryneš,'' margin numbers 31 and 33 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?docid=160561&doclang=EN here]).</ref>

In addition, Recital 18 provides some examples of exempted activities such as:

* personal correspondence,
* keeping of addresses, or
* social networking and online activity as long as they are purely personal or a household activity.

The reference to social networks as a type of activity exempted from the GDPR seems to slightly depart from previous case law of the CJEU in [[CJEU - C-101/01 - Bodil Lindqvist|C-101/01, ''Bodil Lindqvist'']]<ref>Especially, CJEU, C-101/01, ''Lindqvist'', 6 November 2003, margin number 47 (available [https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=48382&pageIndex=0&doclang=de&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=758205 here]).</ref> and seems to indicate that sharing of information with a limited number of close friends can still be seen as a purely personal activity. This would reflect today's reality on various online platforms to a certain extent. 

In practice, there seem to be three main criteria that can help in the assessment:  

* First, one has to assess the space of the processing. Activities that take place in a private space can be considered “personal”. Public places or generally available websites are excluded from the application of the household exemption. 
* Second, the social aspect of the processing is relevant. One needs to review the relationship between the natural person who carries out the processing and the data subjects and the extent of the group of subjects who have access to the personal data. 
* Third, one has to determine the purpose pursued by the controller. According to Recital 18, these activities must have no connection with anything 'professional' or 'economic'. Consequently, if the activities pursue such purposes, the exemption will not apply.

By applying the aforementioned criteria, scholars have convincingly argued that the number of potential recipients of personal data should be verified in order to apply the exemption. Interpreted in this way, the GDPR would not apply to processing operations concerning social network use when they involve a limited number of recipients or readers. Conversely, if the processing or message is available to an indeterminate number of people, the household exemption will not apply.<ref>''Bäcker'', in Wolff, Brink, BeckOK Datenschutzrecht, Article 2 GDPR, margin numbers 18-19 (C.H. Beck 2020, 38th edition).</ref>

===== Scope of exemption =====
Recital 18 also clarifies that exemptions under Article 2(2) GDPR do not extend to controllers or processors that provide the means for purely personal or household processing. It seems equally obvious that a social network would not be exempt from the GDPR, just because some users may fall under the household exemption.<blockquote><u>Example:</u> A user processed her private phone book in a cloud drive to sync it across devices. She has a shared calendar, that is also used by other family members. She is exempt from the GDPR under the household exemption. The commercial provider of the cloud drive still falls under the GDPR.</blockquote>
==== (d) Processing by Competent Authorities for the Purposes of the Prevention, Investigation, Detection or Prosecution of Criminal Offences or the Execution of Criminal penalties ====
Article 3(2) of Directive 95/46/EG already exempted the rather sensitive area of criminal law from the application. When the GDPR was implemented the parallel "Law Enforcement Directive (EU) 2016/680" was passed and now regulates this subject matter. The Directive has to be implemented in national law of each Member State. In many cases, Member States choose to have a single law to implement aspects of the GDPR and the Law Enforcement Directive. 
=== (3) Union Institutions ===
Where data is processed by EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 applies.  

Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data (“EUDPR”) revises Regulation (EC) No. 45/2001 to align it with the GDPR. Chapter IX of the EUDPR outlines general rules on data protection applicable to EU law enforcement activities within the scope of Chapter 2 of Title V of the TFEU. 

The European Data Protection Supervisor ("EDPS") is the relevant supervisory authority for EU institutions. 

=== (4) Directive 2000/31/EC ===
The GDPR applies without prejudice to the application of the e-Commerce Directive 2000/31/EC. Specific reference is made to Articles 12 to 15 e-Commerce Directive, which concern the liability of intermediary service providers in situations where they merely transmit information, ‘cache’ information, or merely store information. Intermediary services still fall under the GDPR for their own processing, but are generally not liable for information that passes their systems. As this is a general rule, this seems to be a mere clarification. From 17 February 2024 the Digital Servies Act will partly replace the e-Commerce Directive.
==Decisions==
→ You can find all related decisions in [[:Category:Article 2 GDPR]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:GDPR Articles]]