Short answer: Sensitive personal data refers to private information about an individual—such as health records, biometric data, or political beliefs. Another type of personal data is PII (personally identifiable information), but this does not fall under the category of sensitive personal data. Under the GDPR, sensitive personal data must be handled with enhanced protection.
What is sensitive personal data?
According to the EU, sensitive personal data refers to a specific category of personal information considered sensitive and more private or vulnerable than person information that is not considered sensitive. If exposed, this type of data could cause significant harm or infringe on an individual’s privacy and safety. Sensitive personal data includes the following categories:
- Health
- Trade union relations
- Biometric data
- Genetic data
- Race
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Political opinions
In contrast, the other category of personal data is PII (Personally Identifiable Information), which refers to information that can directly identify an individual. This includes names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and demographic details. In general, the handling and protection of sensitive personal data are subject to stricter rules and security measures than those applied to PII.
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Sensitive business data
We should also mention sensitive business data even though this is not personal information. Although the rules protecting them may be different, this type of data should also be carefully protected. Sensitive business information may include intellectual property rights, trade secrets, plans for a merger or other data that would adversely affect the business if it fell into the hands of a competitor.
Stop the GDPR monster before it gets its hold of your personal data
What is the legislation to protect sensitive personal data?
Legislation to protect sensitive personal data varies from country to country, but there are some general guidelines and standards that are widely recognised. A central set of rules that has had a global impact is the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which is the EU’s data regulation that applies within the EU.
What happens if you expose sensitive data?
The consequences of exposing personal data to companies will also vary and can be relatively minor to catastrophic, depending on the amount of data leaked, its sensitivity and the degree of your company’s negligence.
Need help managing personal data?
In our newsletter you get tips and tricks for dealing with privacy management from our founder Sebastian Allerelli.
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Do this to process your data
A tool for data discovery can help you organise your files and protect the sensitive personal data you have stored. It can help you with the following:
- Locate your sensitive data is stored
- Classify data according to its sensitivity and level of risk
- Implement effective security controls
- Create data protection assessments
- Report any data breach
- Continuously monitor your risk level
- Save documentation and audit reports
Read more about how to process sensitive personal data in accordance with the GDPR here.
FAQ about sensitive personal data
1. How do we know if data is considered sensitive personal data?
If the information involves health, trade union membership, biometric or genetic data, racial or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, or political opinions, it qualifies as sensitive personal data under GDPR.
2. What happens if sensitive data is exposed?
If a breach occurs, you must immediately assess the risk, notify the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office), and potentially inform affected individuals – all within 72 hours.
3. Can we share sensitive personal data without consent?
No. Sensitive data almost always requires explicit, informed, and voluntary consent. For example, health data may be shared, but only when consent is properly obtained.
4. What if a vendor leaks sensitive personal data?
You, as the data controller, remain responsible. Make sure you have written agreements and oversight in place – and appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) if needed.
The smart way to protect sensitive personal data
To protect sensitive personal data effectively, it is essential to know which information you hold, where it is stored, and how it is exposed. This requires a clear and well-documented overview that enables you to minimise risk and act responsibly.
At Safe Online, we offer a GDPR Risk Assessment that helps you do exactly that. The assessment identifies sensitive personal data across your systems, maps your biggest risks, and provides concrete recommendations on how to protect and handle data safely in your daily operations.
Learn more
Sebastian Allerelli
Founder & COO at Safe Online
Sebastian is the co-founder and COO of Safe Online, where he focuses on automating processes and developing innovative solutions within data protection and compliance. With a background from Copenhagen Business Academy and experience within identity and access management, he has a keen understanding of GDPR and data security. As a writer on Safe Online's Knowledge Hub, Sebastian shares his expertise through practical advice and in-depth analysis that help companies navigate the complex GDPR landscape. His posts combine technical insight with business understanding and provide concrete solutions for effective compliance.
