Whether you’re a freelancer, a business owner, or working in data protection, understanding Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) is essential. They’re not just a legal requirement in many cases, they’re also a smart way to reduce risk and build trust.
What is a DPIA?
A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is a tool to help you identify, assess, and reduce the privacy risks of any data processing project before it starts.
It’s about making sure what you’re planning to do with people’s data is fair, lawful, and won’t cause harm whether that’s emotional, financial, or reputational.
When Do You Need to Do One?
Most data protection laws (including UK GDPR, EU GDPR, and other global privacy laws) require a DPIA when a project is likely to pose a high risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms.
This usually applies to things like:
Using AI or new technologies
Tracking people’s behaviour or location
Profiling individuals to make decisions about them (e.g. credit scoring)
Processing children’s data or data about vulnerable people
Handling sensitive information like health or biometric data
Matching or combining data from different sources
Large-scale monitoring or surveillance
Any project where a data breach could cause serious harm
Not in the UK? Most regulators have similar criteria. Always check your local laws but these examples give you a solid starting point.
For UK readers, the ICO has a list of high-risk activities here
Even If It’s Not Legally Required
It’s still a good idea to do a DPIA if:
You’re doing something new with personal data
You’re unsure whether it might impact individuals
You want to show you’ve thought carefully about privacy risks
Think of it as a “privacy sense-check” before launching a new idea.
How to Do a DPIA (In Simple Steps)
Describe the Project
What data will you use? Who is involved? What’s the purpose?Check for High Risks
Does it involve profiling, tracking, sensitive data, etc.?Assess the Impact
What could go wrong? How might people be affected?Reduce the Risk
Can you limit data collection, improve security, or offer opt-outs?Document It All
Keep a clear record of what you assessed and what changes you made.Get Approval (if needed)
Some organisations require sign-off from legal, privacy, or senior teams.Review Regularly
If your project changes later, revisit the DPIA.
DPIAs don’t have to be complicated or intimidating.
They’re simply a way to show that you care about people’s privacy and are taking steps to protect it whether you’re building a new app, launching a marketing campaign, or introducing a new process.
And the best part? By thinking ahead, you can avoid future headaches, fines, or reputational damage.
The Compliance Corner with Blessing is a space for freelancers, career changers, privacy professionals, and business owners to learn about data protection in a clear and practical way.
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