SCENARIO
Please use the following to answer the next question:
Dynaroux Fashion (`Dynaroux') is a successful international online clothing retailer that employs approximately 650 people at its headquarters based in Dublin, Ireland. Ronan is their recently appointed data protection officer, who oversees the company's compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other privacy legislation.
The company offers both male and female clothing lines across all age demographics, including children. In doing so, the company processes large amounts of information about such customers, including preferences and sensitive financial information such as credit card and bank account numbers.
In an aggressive bid to build revenue growth, Jonas, the CEO, tells Ronan that the company is launching a new mobile app and loyalty scheme that puts significant emphasis on profiling the company's customers by analyzing their purchases. Ronan tells the CEO that: (a) the potential risks of such activities means that
Dynaroux needs to carry out a data protection impact assessment to assess this new venture and its privacy implications; and (b) where the results of this assessment indicate a high risk in the absence of appropriate protection measures, Dynaroux may have to undertake a prior consultation with the Irish Data Protection Commissioner before implementing the app and loyalty scheme.
Jonas tells Ronan that he is not happy about the prospect of having to directly engage with a supervisory authority and having to disclose details of Dynaroux's business plan and associated processing activities.
Which of the following facts about Dynaroux would trigger a data protection impact assessment under the GDPR?
- The company will be undertaking processing activities involving sensitive data categories such as financial and children's data.
- The company employs approximately 650 people and will therefore be carrying out extensive processing activities.
- The company plans to undertake profiling of its customers through analysis of their purchasing patterns.
- The company intends to shift their business model to rely more heavily on online shopping.
Answer(s): C
Explanation:
According to the Free CIPP/E Study Guide, page 14, "the GDPR requires controllers to carry out a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) prior to processing where a type of processing, in particular using new technologies, and taking into account the nature, scope, context and purposes of the processing, is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons." The GDPR also provides a list of examples of processing operations that require a DPIA, such as "a systematic and extensive evaluation of personal aspects relating to natural persons which is based on automated processing, including profiling, and on which decisions are based that produce legal effects concerning the natural person or similarly significantly affect the natural person" (Article 35(3)(a)). Therefore, the fact that Dynaroux plans to undertake profiling of its customers through analysis of their purchasing patterns would trigger a DPIA under the GDPR, as it involves a systematic and extensive evaluation of personal aspects based on automated processing that may significantly affect the customers. The other options are not necessarily cases where a DPIA is required, although they may involve other obligations under the GDPR, such as obtaining a valid legal basis, providing adequate safeguards, or informing the data subjects.
Reference:
Free CIPP/E Study Guide, page 14
GDPR, Article 35
Reveal Solution
Next Question