Special Category Data
/ˈspɛʃəl ˈkætəɡəri ˈdeɪtə/
Definitions
- (n.) Personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data for identification, health data, or data concerning a person’s sex life or sexual orientation, protected under data protection laws.
The GDPR imposes stricter requirements for processing special category data to protect individuals' privacy.
Forms
- special category data
Related terms
See also
Commentary
The term 'special category data' originates mainly from the EU GDPR framework and highlights data types requiring higher levels of protection due to their sensitive nature.
This glossary is for general informational and educational purposes only. Definitions are jurisdiction-agnostic but reflect terminology and concepts primarily drawn from English and American legal traditions. Nothing herein constitutes legal advice or creates a lawyer-client relationship. Users should consult qualified counsel for advice on specific matters or jurisdictions.