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Global Accelerated Learning • Est. 1999
Glossary Term Special Category Data

Training Camp • Cybersecurity Glossary

What is Special Category Data?

Special category data is GDPR Article 9 sensitive personal data, such as health, biometric, and racial data, requiring an explicit lawful condition to process.

Glossary > AI Security & Data Privacy > Special Category Data

Understanding Special Category Data

Special category data is a class of personal data under the EU and UK GDPR that warrants heightened protection because its misuse poses greater risk to individuals' rights and freedoms. Article 9 enumerates these categories as data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data used for unique identification, health data, and data concerning a person's sex life or sexual orientation. Processing such data is prohibited unless a specific Article 9 condition, such as explicit consent, applies.

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