An example of special category data includes any personal data revealing or concerning:
- Racial or ethnic origin
- Political opinions
- Religious or philosophical beliefs
- Trade union membership
- Genetic data
- Biometric data (for identification purposes)
- Data concerning health
- Data concerning a person's sex life or sexual orientation
For instance, biometric data like fingerprint or facial recognition data used to identify a person, health records such as medical conditions, or data revealing political opinions or religious beliefs are all examples of special category data. This type of data is considered sensitive and requires extra protection due to the risks it poses to individuals' rights and freedoms if mishandled.
