What does a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) help identify?

A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is a systematic process aimed at identifying and mitigating potential privacy risks associated with the collection, use, sharing, and management of personal information. It serves as a crucial tool for organizations to evaluate how their projects or initiatives may impact the privacy of individuals, ensuring compliance with privacy laws and regulations.

By conducting a PIA, organizations can proactively identify areas where personal data may be at risk, assess the potential consequences of those risks, and develop strategies to strengthen privacy protections. This can include evaluating the adequacy of data security measures, ensuring transparency in data handling practices, and maintaining compliance with relevant legal standards. The focus is on assessing privacy impacts rather than exploring business opportunities, customer preferences, or market competition, which are not the primary goals of a PIA.