Risks result from adverse effects of data processing and data breaches. What adverse effects do we need to consider? In doing Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), we are considering risks that result from possible harms to data subjects. Risks result from harms or adverse effects to data subjects, either through the routine processing we are considering, or from a breach of the data.
Unauthorised access to personal data
Re-identification of anonymised data
Unintended sharing or exposure of sensitive information
Excessive sharing
Accidental or deliberate erasure or falsification of data
Automated decision making or profiling
Data misuse
Inability to execute data protection rights or lack of transparency
1. Financial
2. Psychological and Emotional
Distress or anxiety from exposure of personal details, extending possibly to next of kin
Reputation damage due to sensitive or misleading data leaks
Targeted harassment, discrimination, or blackmail
3. Physical and Personal Safety
Risk of stalking or harassment if location data is leaked
Threats to personal security due to exposure of home address or routines
Harm to vulnerable groups (e.g. victims of abuse, protected witnesses)
4. Discrimination and Social Bias
Biased algorithmic decisions leading to unfair treatment
Profiling that affects job opportunities, insurance, or creditworthiness
Unfair denial of services due to automated decision-making (e.g. job market)
5. Unsolicited intrusion
Unwanted communications
Physical intrusion of privacy
6. Loss of Control over Personal Data
Inability to manage risk associated with data leaked to the public domain
Destruction of unique records
Time spent in attempts to understand or recover lost data
Limited understanding of data protection rights
7. Lack of Autonomy, Coercion, Manipulation
Restricted daily routines
Ill-informed or ill-advised decisions
8. Erosion of Trust
Trust in organisation damaged
People discouraged from reporting data protection failures
People discouraged from engaging in digital society
Trust in law and justice eroded
9. Legal and Regulatory
Violation of data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, DPA2018)
Fines or penalties due to compliance failures
Liability claims from affected individuals
10. Operational and Business
Loss of trust and reputational damage
Increased regulatory scrutiny and audits
Disruption of business processes due to data integrity issues
Each of these risk categories should be carefully evaluated, considering likelihood and impact, to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures (e.g., encryption, access controls, privacy-by-design) are in place. Would you like help with a risk assessment framework for data processing and breaches? Contact us today!