What does purpose limitation refer to in data processing?

Purpose limitation in data processing refers specifically to the principle that data should be collected and used only for specified and legitimate purposes. This means that when organizations gather data, they must clearly define the intent behind the collection and ensure that the data is not repurposed or used in ways that exceed those original reasons without the consent of the data subjects.

This principle is crucial for compliance with various data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, which emphasizes that individuals have a right to know how their data will be used and that it should not be processed for unrelated or unforeseen purposes. By adhering to this principle, businesses can maintain trust with their customers and clients and ensure ethical handling of personal information.

Regarding the other options, collecting data for future use would violate the principle if no specific purpose is defined up front. Data destruction after a set period, while it relates to the retention of data, does not directly address how data should be used, making it unrelated to the purpose limitation principle. Lastly, permitting unlimited access for research purposes contradicts the idea of limited usage and purpose because it opens the door to using data for reasons not originally outlined.