Data protection and security

Special category data

Types of personal data that need extra protection because misuse could seriously harm the person.

  • Data protection and security

Definition

Types of personal data that need extra protection because misuse could seriously harm the person. They include health, ethnic origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and trade union membership. Free-text fields can hold it without anyone planning it.

Also called

Sensitive personal data

Example

An absence note that says "off with a migraine" contains health data. The field is special category data even though it was meant for dates only.

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