Data Protection Impact Assessment
A systematic process to identify and minimize data protection risks of a project or system before it is implemented.
Also known as: DPIA, Privacy Impact Assessment, PIA, Data Privacy Impact Assessment
Category: Methods
Tags: privacy, compliance, risk-management, data-protection, assessments, processes
Explanation
A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is a structured analysis used to identify, assess, and mitigate privacy risks associated with data processing activities. Required under GDPR for high-risk processing, DPIAs help organizations proactively address privacy concerns before problems occur.
When a DPIA is required:
- Systematic and extensive profiling with significant effects
- Large-scale processing of special category data (health, biometrics, etc.)
- Systematic monitoring of publicly accessible areas
- Using new technologies that may pose high risks
- Any processing likely to result in high risk to individuals' rights
Key components of a DPIA:
1) Description of processing - what data, why, how, and who is involved
2) Necessity assessment - is this processing truly needed for the purpose?
3) Risk identification - what could go wrong for individuals?
4) Risk evaluation - how likely and severe are these risks?
5) Mitigation measures - how will risks be addressed?
6) Documentation - record the assessment and decisions
7) Review process - when and how will the DPIA be revisited?
Benefits beyond compliance: DPIAs force careful thinking about privacy early in projects, often reveal design improvements, build stakeholder trust, and create useful documentation for demonstrating accountability.
Best practices: involve multiple perspectives (legal, technical, business), consult data protection officers early, consider consulting affected individuals, and integrate DPIAs into project management workflows.
A DPIA is not a one-time activity - it should be reviewed when processing changes significantly or when new risks emerge.
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