What is essential for organizations when collecting personal data under GDPR?

Organizations must justify and limit the purpose of data collection under the GDPR to ensure compliance with its principles. The regulation mandates that personal data should only be collected for specific, legitimate purposes that are clearly defined. This aligns with the essential principle of data minimization, which states that organizations should only collect the data necessary for their stated purposes.

By justifying and limiting data collection, organizations not only adhere to legal requirements but also foster trust with individuals, reassuring them that their data is handled responsibly. This focus helps protect individuals’ privacy rights and curtails the risk of misuse or overreach, characteristics that are central to the GDPR’s framework.

The other options, while they may touch on certain aspects of data processing, do not encapsulate the overarching requirements set by GDPR regarding purpose limitation and justification. Collecting as much data as possible contradicts the principle of data minimization, while keeping data indefinitely without a valid reason contravenes the principle of storage limitation. Explicit consent is also important, but it is only one aspect of broader compliance with the purpose limitation principle.