Document background
The PIA Data Protection Impact Assessment is a mandatory requirement under Article 35 of the GDPR for processing operations likely to result in high risks to individuals' rights and freedoms in the Netherlands. This document becomes necessary when an organization introduces new technologies, processes special categories of data, conducts systematic monitoring, or performs large-scale processing of personal data. It serves as both a compliance tool and a risk management framework, helping organizations demonstrate accountability under Dutch and EU data protection law. The assessment must be conducted prior to the commencement of high-risk processing activities and should be regularly reviewed and updated as processing operations evolve. The Dutch Data Protection Authority requires organizations to maintain documentation of their DPIAs and may request to review them during investigations or audits.
