The purpose of a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is to analyze how personally identifiable information (PII) is handled, ensure compliance with appropriate regulations, determine privacy risks associated with information systems or activities, and evaluate ways to reduce those risks. Some specific objectives and uses of PIAs include:
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Compliance with data protection legislation: A PIA helps organizations determine whether they are in compliance with relevant data protection laws at a particular stage in time.
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Meeting privacy expectations: PIAs aim to meet the privacy expectations of the public, taking into account moral and ethical considerations.
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Educational and negotiating tool: PIAs can serve as educational and negotiating tools for system operators during compliance reviews by senior management and external data protection agents or agencies.
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Communication with the public: PIAs allow organizations to communicate more clearly with the public about how they handle information, including how they address privacy concerns and safeguard information.
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Identifying necessary and relevant personal information data: The objective of a PIA is to determine if collected personal information data is necessary and relevant.
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Risk assessment tool for decision-makers: PIAs are risk assessment tools that help decision-makers address not only legal but also moral and ethical issues related to privacy.
