Chapter 2 · Principles

Article 6Lawfulness of processing

All 99 Articles Chapter 2: Principles

You need a lawful basis for every processing activity. There are six, and consent is only one of them — picking the right basis is a foundational compliance decision.

Key points

  • The six bases: consent, contract, legal obligation, vital interests, public task, legitimate interests.
  • You must identify your basis before you start processing, and tell people which one you rely on.
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These summaries are a plain-English orientation only and are not a substitute for the official text of the Regulation or for legal advice.

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