Anyone happen to know what the standard is for when something officially counts as data collection? i.e. do you always have to send things sever-side before it

Anyone happen to know what the standard is for when something officially counts as data collection? i.e. do you always have to send things sever-side before it counts? With all the fuss about things like cookies, I wouldn't even be that surprised if a form input that went nowhere could somehow still get you in trouble.