Which entity is responsible for controlling the processing of personal data?

The correct answer is Personal Information Controller, which is a vital role defined within data privacy regulations. This entity is fundamentally responsible for making decisions about the purposes and means of processing personal data. This includes determining what data to collect, how to handle it, and ensuring compliance with data protection laws.

The Personal Information Controller must implement appropriate measures to safeguard personal data, including consent mechanisms and protection of data rights of individuals. This responsibility encompasses accountability for any personal data management activities, ensuring transparency, and upholding data subjects’ rights.

In contrast, the other entities mentioned have different roles: the Data Subject is the individual whose personal data is being processed, the Data Processor acts on behalf of the Personal Information Controller to carry out processing activities, and the Information User typically refers to individuals or systems using the data but without the governing authority that the Personal Information Controller has. Each of these positions plays a significant role in data privacy but does not possess the overarching control that the Personal Information Controller does.