Section 50: Research, history and statistics

50. Research, history and statistics (1) Subject to subsections (2), (4) and (5), personal data which are processed only for research, historical or statistical purposes shall be exempt from the Fifth Data Protection Principle. (2) The exemption provided for under subsection (1) shall not be applicable where— (a) such personal data are not processed to support measures or decisions with respect to particular individuals; and (b) such personal data are processed in such a way that such processing would substantially damage or substantially distress any data subject or is likely to cause such damage or distress. (3) For the purposes of— (a) the Second Data Protection Principle; and (b) sections 23 to 27, further processing of personal data only for research, historical or statistical purposes shall not be regarded as incompatible with the purposes for which such data was obtained provided that the conditions under subsection (2) are satisfied. (4) The personal data processed for the purposes specified in subsection (1) shall also be exempt from the provisions of Part VI where— (a) the conditions under subsection (2) (a) and (b) are satisfied; and (b) the results of the research or any resulting statistics are not made available in a form which identifies any of the data subjects concerned. (S. 50 came into operation on 16 February 2009.)