dataskyddsbedömningar

Dataskyddsbedömningar, eller data protection impact assessments (DPIA) in English, are systematic evaluations of processing activities to identify and mitigate risks to the rights and freedoms of natural persons due to the processing of personal data. The assessment helps data controllers ensure that processing is necessary and proportionate, and that appropriate safeguards are in place before processing begins. A DPIA is required under the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Article 35 whenever processing is likely to result in a high risk to individuals, for example in large-scale monitoring, systematic profiling, processing of special categories of data, or a new technology that could affect individuals' privacy. It may also be requested by a data protection authority in certain contexts.

The DPIA process typically includes: describing the processing and its purposes; assessing necessity and proportionality; identifying risks to rights and freedoms; determining safeguards and mitigating measures; and documenting outcomes. It should involve relevant stakeholders, and may require consultation with supervisory authorities if residual risks remain high. The DPIA should be treated as a live document, updated as processing evolves, and integrated into privacy by design and by default.

The results inform decisions about whether to proceed with the processing, adjust the project, or implement additional safeguards, and they serve as evidence of accountability for the data controller. In Sweden the term Dataskyddsbedömningar is widely used, and national guidance is provided by the supervisory authority, now the Integritetsskyddsmyndigheten (IMY).