Processing of personal data

To make it short: Processing means anything done with personal data – from collecting, using and storing it, to deleting it, or even merely accessing it

A more detailed definition: Processing means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as:

• collection,
• recording,
• organisation, 
• structuring, 
• storage,
• adaption or alteration,
• retrieval,
• consultation, 
• use,
• disclosure by transmission, 
• dissemination or otherwise making available,
• alignment or combination,
• restriction,
• erasure

Basically, anything one can do with data is processing!

Examples:

• staff management and payroll administration;
• access to/consultation of a contacts database containing personal data;
• sending promotional e-mails;
• shredding documents containing personal data;
• posting/putting a photo of a person on a website;
• storing IP addresses or MAC addresses;
• video recording (CCTV).