Which group is legally bound by the general data protection regulation (GDPR)?

The correct answer recognizes that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to any organization that processes the personal data of individuals residing in the European Union (EU), regardless of where the organization itself is located. This means that even if a corporation is based outside of the EU, it must comply with the GDPR if it collects, stores, or otherwise processes data belonging to EU citizens.

The scope of the GDPR is designed to protect the privacy rights of EU citizens, establishing a comprehensive legal framework that governs data processing activities. The regulation emphasizes the importance of personal data protection regardless of the geographical location of the data handler, making it a pioneering law for privacy rights on a global scale. This is why organizations that handle the personal data of individuals in the EU, even if they operate outside of the EU, are legally bound by GDPR regulations.

The other choices reference specific geographical or operational criteria that do not encompass the full reach of the GDPR. For instance, being located in a country that adopts GDPR does not guarantee compliance if the entity does not engage with EU citizens' data, and being headquartered in the EU or having operations in multiple EU nations does not extend the scope beyond that of processing data of EU citizens. Hence, the recognition that processing the personal data