Processing of personal data

To make it short:

Processing = Collecting + Exploiting + Destruction

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

So, in principle, everything 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).