Jargon Explained

We want everyone to engage positively and constructively with data protection rights and responsibilities. To do that, we try and present information and guidance in a relevant and accessible way. Although it is sometimes necessary to use legal terminology, we will use plain English wherever we can. Data protection is for all of us, not just for lawyers.
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H

Health data

Personal data relating to the health of an individual, including the provision of health care services, which reveals information about the individual’s health (physical or mental) status.

Health or social care purpose

Includes the purpose of preventative or occupational medicine, the assessment of the working capacity of an employee or worker, medical diagnosis, the provision of medical, health or social care or treatment, or the management of medical, health or social care systems and services.

High risk

Processing of personal data is deemed to be likely to pose a high risk to the significant interests of data subjects where it involves –

  • A systematic and extensive evaluation of personal aspects relating to data subjects based on automated processing, and decisions are based on the evaluation that affect the significant interests of the data subjects,
  • Large scale processing of special category data,
  • Large scale and systemic monitoring of a public place, or
  • Any other prescribed kind or description of processing.

High-risk processing

Any processing of personal data that is likely to pose a high risk to the significant interests of data subjects. This should be determined by considering the nature, scope, context and purpose of the processing as well as the technology, mechanism or procedure used to process the data in question.

Processing of personal data will be considered as posing a high risk where it involves –

  • a systematic and extensive evaluation of personal aspects relating to data subjects based on automated processing, and decisions are based on the evaluation that affect the significant interests of data subjects,
  • large-scale processing of special category data,
  • large-scale and systematic monitoring of a public place, or
  • any other prescribed kind or description of processing.