Special categories of personal data

The GDPR art. 9  takes special care of so called special categories of personal data (in Dutch: bijzondere persoonsgegevens), because processing these data m`ay lead to discrimination or exclusion. Processing these is in principle forbidden, though there are several exceptions to this ban. If you plan to process one or more of these types of personal data, please ask for support from your privacy officer.

The following special categories of personal data can be distinguished:

Personal data revealing someone’s:

• racial or ethnic origin (this may include nationality, if it is used to distinguish groups of people),
• political opinions (interpreted widely: any view about the organisation of society is considered a political opinion),
• religious or philosophical beliefs (interpreted widely),
• trade union membership,

and also:

• genetic data (like DNA),
• biometric data, but only if it is used for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person,
• data concerning health (interpreted widely, e.g. also indicative medical data like dyslexia or ADHD),
• data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

Personal data about criminal offences and someones criminal history are not considered special personal data, but these data should be handled with the same care.