In most cases, ICT research based on data from social networks involves operations that, by virtue of their nature, their scope and/or their purposes, require regular and systematic monitoring of data subjects on a large scale. Therefore, the appointment of a DPO is compulsoryaccording to the conditions settled by Article 37(1) apply. Even if this is not the case, it is always recommendable to proceed to do so, at least in terms of transparency (see the “Lawfulness, fairness and transparency Principle” subsection in the “Main Principles” section of the General part of these Guidelines).