Data Protection Impact Assessment

A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is a systematic analysis of how a project or system processes personal data and the risks to individuals' privacy. Required under GDPR and similar privacy laws when processing is likely to result in high risk to individuals' rights and freedoms, particularly for: large-scale profiling, sensitive data processing, systematic monitoring of public areas, or use of new technologies. The DPIA describes the processing, assesses necessity and proportionality, evaluates risks to individuals' rights and privacy, and identifies measures to mitigate those risks. It should be conducted before beginning high-risk processing and involves consultation with data protection officers and sometimes data subjects. The assessment helps organizations comply with privacy laws, demonstrate accountability, avoid costly breaches, and build trust. Organizations must document DPIAs and, in some cases, consult with supervisory authorities before proceeding. Regular review and update of DPIAs ensures ongoing compliance as processing activities evolve.