{"release":{"id":"c89ff15ec1240a456b40735def079beeda55a0c372be7f3da154287997367ecf","published":"2026-11-02T04:02:35Z","pinned":false},"limits":{"coverage":{"history":"full","held_since":"2016-05-04","gaps":[],"covered":["GDPR L1"],"not_covered":["national guidance","court decisions"]},"freshness":{"release_id":"c89ff15ec1240a456b40735def079beeda55a0c372be7f3da154287997367ecf","release_published":"2026-11-02T04:02:35Z","checked_at":"2026-10-26","checked_against":"EUR-Lex"},"truncation":null,"failures":[],"incomplete":[]},"page":{"path":"/gdpr/articles/11","url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/gdpr/articles/11","title":"Article 11 — Processing which does not require identification","family":"l1_generated","work_id":"gdpr","status":"in_force","force_status":"in_force","date_state":"current","requested_date":null,"as_of":"2026-11-02","applies_from":"2018-05-25","application":{"state":"applicable","next":null,"dates":[{"at":"2018-05-25","note":"Article 99(2)"}]},"version_label":"Consolidated version of 4 May 2016","check":{"against":"EUR-Lex","on":"2026-10-26"},"check_result":"matched","official_url":"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504","valid_from":"2016-05-04","valid_until":"2018-05-25","revision":1,"content_id":"ad41261ec6bce7cd","change_date":null,"nearest_versions":["2016-05-04"],"first_text_date":"2016-04-27","correction_applies":false,"versions":["2016-05-04"],"version_url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/gdpr/articles/11/versions/2016-05-04","revision_url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/gdpr/articles/11/versions/2016-05-04/rev/ad41261ec6bce7cd","versions_url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/gdpr/articles/11/versions","relations_url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/gdpr/articles/11/relations","source_line":null,"attribution":null},"provenance":{"official_url":"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504","check":{"result":"matched","checked_at":"2026-10-26","against":"EUR-Lex"},"repo_path":"spaces/gdpr/articles/11.md","body_sha256":"4b396ebc4c75a8087ef01d79539cf4b553f8bc4715a759181f1b66f06ada5225"},"units":[{"locator":"gdpr/art/11","kind":"article","status":"in_force","label":null,"heading":"Processing which does not require identification","text":"","marks":[],"revision":1,"text_hash":"e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8996fb92427ae41e4649b934ca495991b7852b855","reason":null},{"locator":"gdpr/art/11/para/1","kind":"paragraph","status":"in_force","label":"1.","heading":null,"text":"If the purposes for which a controller processes personal data do not or do no longer require the identification of a data subject by the controller, the controller shall not be obliged to maintain, acquire or process additional information in order to identify the data subject for the sole purpose of complying with this Regulation.","marks":[],"revision":1,"text_hash":"1c68e5dcf938cae9ad763e25dc7e3c2497c273902219ea7dddf9c6b50a03b731","reason":null},{"locator":"gdpr/art/11/para/2","kind":"paragraph","status":"in_force","label":"2.","heading":null,"text":"Where, in cases referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the controller is able to demonstrate that it is not in a position to identify the data subject, the controller shall inform the data subject accordingly, if possible. In such cases, Articles 15 to 20 shall not apply except where the data subject, for the purpose of exercising his or her rights under those articles, provides additional information enabling his or her identification.","marks":[],"revision":1,"text_hash":"6a3bdde22bd638d2a5457d2af000c0d305d82406a80fc9a9002671def60d5fde","reason":null}],"markdown":"---\ntitle: \"Article 11 — Processing which does not require identification\"\ntype: regulation\nlegal_status: in_force\nsource: \"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504\"\nsource_retrieved: 2026-09-28\nshortTitle: \"Article 11 — Processing which does not require identification\"\ninstrument_type: level1_regulation\nauthority: Commission\nbinding: true\nbinding_character: binding\nmica_level2: false\nlegal_basis: \"Regulation (EU) 2016/679\"\ninstrument: gdpr\ncelex: \"32016R0679\"\nregulation: GDPR\nregulation-full: \"Regulation (EU) 2016/679\"\narticle: 11\nstatus: in_force\nobject_id: eu.gdpr.legal_text.article.11\ntext_version: \"Consolidated version of 4 May 2016\"\nsource_url: \"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504\"\ncheck_status: matched\nverified: true\nlast_checked: 2026-10-26\n---\n\n*In force · Consolidated version of 4 May 2016 · Checked against EUR-Lex on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504)*\n\n1. <a id=\"p-1\"></a>If the purposes for which a [controller](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/gdpr/controller) processes [personal data](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/gdpr/personal-data) do not or do no longer require the identification of a data subject by the controller, the controller shall not be obliged to maintain, acquire or process additional information in order to identify the data subject for the sole purpose of complying with this Regulation.\n2. <a id=\"p-2\"></a>Where, in cases referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the controller is able to demonstrate that it is not in a position to identify the data subject, the controller shall inform the data subject accordingly, if possible. In such cases, [Articles 15](15.md) to 20 shall not apply except where the data subject, for the purpose of exercising his or her rights under those articles, provides additional information enabling his or her identification.\n\n***\n\n[Chapter II — Principles](../chapters/ii.md) · [← Article 10](10.md) · [Article 12 →](12.md)\n"}