What is the essential purpose of a privacy notice?

The essential purpose of a privacy notice is to inform individuals about data collection practices. This includes providing details on what personal data is being collected, how it will be used, who it will be shared with, the legal basis for processing the data, and the rights individuals have regarding their personal data. Transparency is a core principle of data protection laws, particularly under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which emphasizes the obligation of organizations to inform data subjects clearly and comprehensively about their data practices.

While protecting the controller from liability, advertising services, or facilitating data sharing could be secondary effects or intentions behind how privacy notices are structured or communicated, they do not capture the primary and legal obligations that govern the content and purpose of a privacy notice. The primary aim is always to ensure that individuals are adequately informed, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding their personal data.