Privacy impact assessments

Privacy impact assessments (PIAs) are systematic evaluations that identify and mitigate privacy risks before launching new features or products. This process examines what data you collect, why you need it, how you'll protect it, and what could go wrong. PIAs help teams spot problems early when they're cheaper and easier to fix.

The assessment process involves documenting data flows, identifying potential privacy risks, evaluating the necessity and proportionality of data collection, and proposing risk mitigation measures.

Key questions in the assessment include:

• What personal data will we process?
• Who will have access?
• How long will we retain it?
• What happens if this data is compromised?

Teams should conduct PIAs whenever launching new features, changing data practices, or adopting new technologies that affect user privacy. GDPR requires PIAs (Data Protection Impact Assessments) for high-risk processing activities like large-scale processing of sensitive data, systematic monitoring of public areas, or automated decision-making that significantly affects users. Even when not legally required, PIAs force teams to think critically about privacy implications before committing to specific technical approaches.