Data Protection Impact Assessment
A structured process required by GDPR for assessing the potential impact of a data processing activity on individuals' privacy. DPIAs are mandatory when processing is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons.
A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is a risk assessment focused specifically on the privacy implications of a proposed data processing activity. Under GDPR Article 35, DPIAs are required before starting any processing that is likely to result in high risk to individuals — such as large-scale profiling, systematic monitoring of public areas, or large-scale processing of special category data.
A DPIA typically covers a description of the processing activity and its purposes, an assessment of the necessity and proportionality of the processing, an evaluation of risks to individuals' rights and freedoms, and the measures planned to address those risks. The assessment should be documented and reviewed by the Data Protection Officer if one is appointed.
Beyond the legal requirement, DPIAs are a valuable tool for building privacy into product design. Conducting a DPIA early in a project's lifecycle helps teams identify privacy risks before systems are built, making it easier and cheaper to address them. Organizations that treat DPIAs as a genuine design tool rather than a compliance checkbox tend to build more privacy-respecting products and face fewer regulatory challenges.
Related frameworks
Related terms
Data Controller
Under GDPR, the entity that determines the purposes and means of processing personal data. The data controller decides why personal data is collected and how it will be used, and bears primary responsibility for compliance with data protection obligations.
Data Processor
Under GDPR, an entity that processes personal data on behalf of a data controller. The processor acts on the controller's instructions and must not process data for its own purposes. A Data Processing Agreement (DPA) governs the relationship between controller and processor.
Data Protection Officer
A designated role within an organization responsible for overseeing data protection strategy and compliance with GDPR. Appointment of a DPO is mandatory for public authorities, organizations conducting large-scale systematic monitoring, and those processing special category data at scale.
Risk Assessment
A structured process for identifying, analyzing, and evaluating information security risks. Risk assessments determine the likelihood and potential impact of threats to an organization's information assets, guiding decisions about which controls to implement.
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