Back to all glossary articles

Data controller

A data controller is a person or organization that determines the use of personal information. The role of the data controller can be shared by many people or organizations.

Rights and responsibilities of data controllers include:

  • establishing a lawful data process and observing the rights of Data subject s (including collecting data subject Consent s and requests)
  • issuing instructions on data processing (including appointing employees to serve as point of contact) for the Data processor – the data processor should handle data exclusively in the manner prescribed by the controller.

Read more about data controller on the Piwik PRO blog and in the resources section:

  • Banking website analytics for financial services: Tracking without compromising customer trust

    You don’t have to choose between insights and trust – modern banking analytics can deliver both when implemented correctly. This article explores best practices and recommended steps for banking website analytics, as well as ways to avoid common pitfalls to ensure compliance without sacrificing the quality of insights.

  • Five things every marketer should know about web analytics in 2026

    Web analytics is changing fast. AI is moving from buzzword to actual business impact, privacy rules keep shifting on both sides of the Atlantic, and marketing teams are rethinking their tool stacks. What does this mean for analytics strategy in 2026? We asked industry experts to share their predictions.

Other definitions

Recent posts from Piwik PRO blog