privacyimpactbeoordeling

Privacy impact assessment (PIA) is a systematic process for evaluating the potential privacy effects of a project, product, or system before it is implemented. The goal is to identify privacy risks, assess their likelihood and impact, and implement measures to mitigate harm to individuals and comply with data protection laws.

PIAs are most needed when processing large amounts of personal data, sensitive data, or using new technologies that enable new data processing capabilities, profiling, or automated decision making. They are also useful for organizations seeking to demonstrate accountability to regulators and the public.

The process typically includes defining the scope, mapping data flows, identifying the data subjects and purposes, and assessing risks to privacy rights. It also involves evaluating existing and proposed safeguards, such as data minimization, access controls, encryption, retention limits, and transparency measures, and determining residual risk. The findings are documented in a PIA report and used to inform decisions, obtain approvals, and implement changes prior to deployment. Ongoing monitoring and periodic re-assessment are recommended as projects evolve.

Legal context: under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, a DPIA (data protection impact assessment) is required for high-risk processing. Other jurisdictions have parallel requirements, while many organizations adopt PIAs as a best practice to support privacy by design and accountability.

Limitations: a PIA relies on available information and may need updates as processing changes. It does not guarantee compliance or eliminate all privacy risks but aims to reduce them and improve governance.