'Grotere verscheidenheid, snelheid en volume van persoonsgegevens. Richtlijn 2016/680 (LED) en big data policing

This article focuses on the three oldest building blocks of big data: variety, velocity and volume. The authors ask how these three big data characteristics relate to the basic rules of EU data protection law. The contribution does not provide a full analysis of this legal system, but looks at two data protection basics: purpose limitation and data minimization, in the EU's main data protection instrument dealing with law enforcement. The authors conclude from their analysis that the general rules and principles of the Law Enforcement Directive (LED) may indeed be sufficient in their own way to provide adequate data protection, and that there is no prima facie reason to speak of a flawed and/or unclear legal instrument, but rather one that provides a solid foundation for further regulation and initiatives to promote best practices in contemporary data-driven policing. Still, more detailed policing guidance is desirable.