Transparency Principle

A core data protection principle requiring that information about personal data processing be readily available, easily accessible, and presented in clear, plain language that data subjects can understand. Under GDPR Article 5(1)(a), transparency is one of the fundamental principles governing all processing alongside lawfulness and fairness. The principle manifests in specific requirements: providing information when collecting data (Articles 13-14), disclosing processing details upon access requests (Article 15), communicating data breaches (Articles 33-34), and generally ensuring individuals know who processes their data, why, and what rights they have. Transparency enables: informed consent, meaningful rights exercise, accountability verification, trust building, and market competition. Organizations satisfy transparency through: privacy policies, cookie notices, collection forms, dashboards showing data usage, preference centers, and clear communications. Transparency failures undermine other rights—individuals can't exercise deletion rights if they don't know who has their data. Regulators increasingly emphasize that transparency isn't just publishing long policies—it requires active efforts ensuring individuals actually receive and understand relevant information.