GDPR Article 29: Processing under the authority of the controller or processor

Article 29 of the GDPR Explained

Any employee, service provider, or other party accessing personal data must comply with the instructions of the controller or processor. This implies :

• Awareness-raising and training for the personnel concerned;
• The implementation of procedures governing authorised processing operations;
• Measures to track and monitor access to data.

Why This Article is Important for Your GDPR Compliance

Strict adherence to the authority of the controller is essential to prevent unauthorised processing operations, which can lead to leaks or abuse. This is crucial for the security and legality of the processing operations carried out by the members of the organisation or its partners.

How to Comply with Article 29 of the GDPR?

• Clearly define who can access data and under what conditions;
• Formalise processing instructions in internal procedures or guides;
• Train employees on GDPR and their obligations;
• Use authentication and data access traceability systems.

Examples of Article 29 GDPR Application

• An employee only has access to the data required for their role (need-to-know principle).
• An IT support provider may only consult customer databases as part of a ticket validated by the manager.
• An intern is trained on GDPR guidelines before accessing software containing personal data.

Related Resources

• Official text of the GDPR – EUR-Lex
• Practical guides from the French supervisory authority
• European data protection portal

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