A Limit on the Search Explained

Where the response states that the organisation limited the scope of its search, it states what was not searched, and why.

Criterion: D6
Level: Level 2
Domain: Completeness and Scope
Reflects: Article 5(2)

Intent

A limit the person can see the shape of is one they can push back on. Told only that something was left out, they cannot ask for the part they wanted.

How to test it

An assessor scores the criterion against a single response:

Score 2: The response states what the organisation did not search, and the reason it was not searched.
Score 1: The response states what the organisation did not search but gives no reason, or gives a reason without saying what was left out.
Score 0: The response states that the search was limited and says nothing further about it.
Not applicable: The response does not state that the search was limited.

The law it reflects

This criterion reflects Article 5(2) of the UK GDPR. That mapping is a guide, not a legal test: conformance is judged against the criterion, not the article.

See D6 in context in the full standard.