Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)
A systematic assessment of a project to identify and reduce privacy risks.
A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is a broader term for systematic processes to evaluate and minimize privacy risks. While similar to a DPIA (which is specifically required by GDPR), a PIA can be conducted under any privacy framework. PIAs help organizations: identify what personal data is collected and why, assess whether data collection is proportionate, identify privacy risks, determine mitigation measures, and demonstrate accountability. PIAs should be conducted at the early stages of any project that involves personal data processing, and should be reviewed and updated as the project evolves.