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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:

  • first party data

    First-party analytics without consent: Your Digital Omnibus compliance guide

    The Digital Omnibus is the European Commission’s simplification initiative to modernize the EU’s digital rulebook and reduce consent fatigue. The framework would enable first-party analytics without consent when specific criteria are met, ending years of uncertainty about the use of legitimate interest for web statistics.

  • University website personalization: First-party data strategies for student recruitment and retention

    University websites receive millions of visits annually from diverse audiences – prospective students, admitted students weighing their options, current undergraduates, graduate students, parents, alumni, and faculty. Yet most institutions serve identical content to all these visitors, missing critical opportunities to engage each audience with relevant information.

Other definitions

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