Sensitive data is a special category of personal data under the GDPR.

The following types of information fall under this definition:

  • health data
  • racial or ethnic origin
  • religious beliefs
  • sexual orientation
  • trade-union memberships
  • political opinions
  • biometric data

As a Data controller , you must meet the following conditions in order to process sensitive data:

  • You must obtain user consent
  • The processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject when one is unable to give consent
  • The data subject has revealed the sensitive data publicly
  • It is necessary for claims or in a legal process
  • Processing the data for reasons of substantial public interest on the basis of EU or national law
  • You are processing the data for preventive or occupational medicine
  • The processing is required for public health reasons – preventing epidemics, etc.

For more details we recommend reading this article prepared by the European Commission.

What’s more, such data requires special protection from unauthorized access to ensure that the privacy and security of both individuals and companies is properly guarded. You can read about this here.


  • 25 years of digital analytics with Brian Clifton: Being data-informed, not just data-driven

    As organizations increasingly rely on data in their business decisions, the challenges of ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and ethical collection are becoming more and more important. Along with understanding the audience’s needs, supporting collaboration between teams, and securing privacy compliance, these challenges have evolved into data collection and analytics priorities.  Let’s dive into the third…

    Read more

  • Piwik PRO is HIPAA certified

    Piwik PRO is officially HIPAA certified!

    At Piwik PRO, ensuring the highest level of security and data protection has always been our top priority. Developing privacy-friendly analytics is just one aspect of our commitment. We validate our approach by obtaining external certifications from independent organizations. As such, we are pleased to announce that a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)…

    Read more