What constitutes ‘sensitive personal data’?

In its most basic definition, sensitive data is a specific set of “special categories”: 

  • Genetic data
  • Political opinions
  • Racial or ethnic origin
  • Data concerning health
  • Trade union membership
  • Religious or philosophical beliefs
  • Data concerning sex life or sexual orientation
  • Biometric data (where processed to uniquely identify someone)

Article 9 of the GDPR prohibits special category data from being processed unless you can rely on an exemption.

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