Understanding sensitive data: definition, issues and implications under GDPR

Find out what sensitive data is, how it is defined under the GDPR, and the issues and implications surrounding this sensitive information.

Sensitive data represents a crucial aspect of personal data protection. Their processing requires special attention due to their sensitive nature and potential impact on individuals' privacy. In this article, we'll explore what sensitive data is, how it's defined under the GDPR, who is affected by its processing, and the issues and implications surrounding it.

What is sensitive data?

Sensitive data, also known as sensitive personal data, refers to any information that reveals intimate or confidential details about an individual. According to the GDPR, categories of sensitive data include, but are not limited to:

• Racial or ethnic origin
• Political views
• Religious or philosophical convictions
• Union membership
• Genetic data
• Biometric data to uniquely identify a person
• Health data
• Sexual life or sexual orientation

Examples of sensitive data:

• A medical record containing information about an individual's medical treatment.
• Data on an employee's union membership.
• The results of a DNA test revealing a person's genetic information.
• Political or religious opinions publicly expressed by an individual on social networks.
• Biometric data used for authentication, such as fingerprints or facial recognition.

GDPR definition

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) defines sensitive data as personal information revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, as well as genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a person, data concerning a person's health or sex life or sexual orientation.

The importance of protecting sensitive data

The protection of sensitive data is of paramount importance because of its intimate and confidential nature. Such data can be used to identify, discriminate against or harm an individual if it falls into the wrong hands. What's more, the processing of such data often requires enhanced security measures to prevent breaches of privacy and confidentiality.

Who is affected by the processing of sensitive data?

Any organization or entity that processes sensitive data is subject to the GDPR 's strict privacy obligations. This includes companies, government agencies, associations, healthcare professionals, educational institutions and any other entity that collects, stores, processes or shares such information.

Issues and implications

The processing of sensitive data entails significant risks in terms of individual privacy and confidentiality. The main concerns and implications surrounding such data include:

• Risks of discrimination: The disclosure of certain sensitive data may lead to unfair discrimination or prejudice against the individuals concerned.
• Violations of privacy: mishandling or unauthorized access to sensitive data can compromise the privacy and security of the people concerned.
• Legal penalties: violations of the GDPR in relation to the processing of sensitive data can result in substantial fines and regulatory sanctions for the organizations responsible.
• The importance of enhanced security measures : Sensitive data often requires additional security measures to protect its confidentiality and avoid privacy breaches.

✅ Sensitive data represents a key aspect of protecting individual privacy and confidentiality. By understanding their nature, their definition under the GDPR, and the issues and implications associated with their processing, organizations