Data Processing for Research Purposes

Current Basics and Future Needs from a Legal Point of View

The processing of personal data for purposes of research and science has the potential to promote various aspects of the common good to a large extent. That raises the question of the legal handling of this type of commonly useful data processing. The paper discusses on the basis of an analysis of the technological, societal and scientific conditions, and of the existing legal framework, if and how a trade-off between possible threats and benefits is currently established, reveals weak points of the existing legal concept in the EU and proposes alternatives where necessary.