In which scenario would consent of the data subject become relevant?

Consent of the data subject becomes particularly relevant when personal information is collected and processed. This principle is crucial under data protection laws, such as the Data Privacy Act, which generally mandates that individuals must be informed about how their data will be used and must provide explicit permission for their personal data to be collected and processed. This emphasizes the importance of autonomy and control over one’s own information.

In instances where data is anonymized, consent is not typically required because the process alters the data to eliminate any personal identifiers. When data is sold to third parties, while consent is often necessary for such transactions, the core issue pertains to the actual collection and processing of personal information first. Archiving data indefinitely typically refers to how data is stored rather than when it is initially collected and used; thus, consent at the point of collection remains the pivotal moment for data subjects' rights and protections.