Search Legislation

Data Protection Act 2018

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about opening options

Opening OptionsExpand opening options

Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Meaning of certain terms used in the UK GDPR

 Help about opening options

Changes to legislation:

Data Protection Act 2018, Cross Heading: Meaning of certain terms used in the UK GDPR is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 June 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Meaning of certain terms used in the [F1UK GDPR] U.K.

6Meaning of “controller”U.K.

(1)The definition of “controller” in Article 4(7) of the [F2UK GDPR] has effect subject to—

(a)subsection (2),

(b)section 209, and

(c)section 210.

(2)For the purposes of the [F3UK GDPR], where personal data is processed only—

(a)for purposes for which it is required by an enactment to be processed, and

(b)by means by which it is required by an enactment to be processed,

the person on whom the obligation to process the data is imposed by the enactment (or, if different, one of the enactments) is the controller.

7Meaning of “public authority” and “public body”U.K.

(1)For the purposes of the [F4UK GDPR], the following (and only the following) are “public authorities” and “public bodies” F5...—

(a)a public authority as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000,

(b)a Scottish public authority as defined by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 13),

[F6(ba)the Advanced Research and Invention Agency,] and

(c)an authority or body specified or described by the Secretary of State in regulations,

subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4).

(2)An authority or body that falls within subsection (1) is only a “public authority” or “public body” for the purposes of the [F7UK GDPR] when performing a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in it.

(3)The references in subsection (1)(a) and (b) to public authorities and Scottish public authorities as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 13) do not include any of the following that fall within those definitions—

(a)a parish council in England;

(b)a community council in Wales;

(c)a community council in Scotland;

(d)a parish meeting constituted under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1972;

(e)a community meeting constituted under section 27 of that Act;

(f)charter trustees constituted—

(i)under section 246 of that Act,

(ii)under Part 1 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or

(iii)by the Charter Trustees Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/263).

(4)The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that a person specified or described in the regulations that is a public authority [F8described or mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (ba)] is not a “public authority” or “public body” for the purposes of the [F9UK GDPR].

(5)Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

Back to top

Options/Help

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?