The Right Data, Not Just Any Data: Why Accuracy Is GDPR’s Unsung Hero

In the digital world, getting someone’s name wrong might seem like a small error. But imagine showing up to an airport and finding your ticket booked under “Andrew” instead of “Andrea.” Now it’s a big deal.

That’s the fourth principle of the GDPR—Accuracy—in action. It’s not just about having data. It’s about having the right data.

A Typo with Consequences

Let’s say HR accidentally marks a high-performing employee as having “left the company.” A simple error, right? But then payroll kicks in, benefits get revoked, and emails bounce. What started as a typo spirals into a full-blown internal crisis—and a breach of GDPR’s Accuracy requirement.

Accuracy isn’t about perfectionism. It’s about fairness, trust, and the ripple effects that incorrect data can cause.

What the Principle Really Means

Under the GDPR, personal data must be:

• Accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date
  
• Every reasonable step must be taken to ensure data that is inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which it is processed, is erased or rectified without delay
  

In plain English? If you’re collecting data about people, you’re also responsible for keeping it correct. Outdated, sloppy, or half-true records? That’s not just bad admin—it’s a potential compliance failure.

The Broken Mirror of Bad Data

Imagine running a company based on data that’s two years out of date. Employees promoted but not updated in the system. Customers who’ve changed addresses but still get invoices to the wrong location. Candidates marked “rejected” who actually made it to final rounds.

It’s like navigating a city with an old map—every wrong turn wastes time, money, and reputation.

And more importantly? People have the right to be represented accurately. Incorrect data can impact credit scores, job opportunities, even legal proceedings. In some cases, it’s not just inconvenient—it’s unjust.

Keeping the Mirror Clean

So how do you make sure your data reflects reality?

• Build accuracy checks into your processes. Don’t just collect once—verify periodically.
  
• Encourage people to update their own data. Make it easy and intuitive.
  
• Set clear ownership of data quality across teams—especially in HR, marketing, and customer service.
  
• Delete or correct outdated data proactively. GDPR rewards maintenance, not just collection.
  

Why Accuracy Builds Trust

Accurate data isn’t just a compliance checkbox—it’s a sign of respect. It says, “We see you correctly. We care enough to get it right.”

In a world full of auto-filled forms, AI-generated assumptions, and copy-pasted databases, that kind of precision stands out. It strengthens trust, sharpens decision-making, and protects people’s rights.

Final Thought

If data is the new oil, then accuracy is the refinery. No one wants to work with polluted fuel.So ask yourself: Do our records reflect the truth—or just a version of it? Because in GDPR’s eyes, good intentions aren’t enough. When it comes to personal data, it’s not about having information. It’s about having it right.