--- title: "Article 2 — Material scope" type: regulation legal_status: in_force source: "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504" source_retrieved: 2026-09-28 shortTitle: "Article 2 — Material scope" instrument_type: level1_regulation authority: Commission binding: true binding_character: binding mica_level2: false legal_basis: "Regulation (EU) 2016/679" instrument: gdpr celex: "32016R0679" regulation: GDPR regulation-full: "Regulation (EU) 2016/679" article: 2 status: in_force object_id: eu.gdpr.legal_text.article.2 text_version: "Consolidated version of 4 May 2016" source_url: "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504" check_status: matched verified: true last_checked: 2026-10-26 --- *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)* 1. This Regulation applies to the [processing](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/gdpr/processing) of [personal data](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/gdpr/personal-data) wholly or partly by automated means and to the processing other than by automated means of personal data which form part of a [filing system](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/gdpr/filing-system) or are intended to form part of a filing system. 2. This Regulation does not apply to the processing of personal data: **(a)** in the course of an activity which falls outside the scope of Union law; **(b)** by the Member States when carrying out activities which fall within the scope of Chapter 2 of Title V of the TEU; **(c)** by a natural person in the course of a purely personal or household activity; **(d)** by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, including the safeguarding against and the prevention of threats to public security. 3. For the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 applies. Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and other Union legal acts applicable to such processing of personal data shall be adapted to the principles and rules of this Regulation in accordance with [Article 98](98.md). 4. This Regulation shall be without prejudice to the application of Directive 2000/31/EC, in particular of the liability rules of intermediary service providers in Articles 12 to 15 of that Directive. *** [Chapter I — General provisions](../chapters/i.md) · [← Article 1](1.md) · [Article 3 →](3.md)