IAPP CIPP-E Questions Answers

According to the GDPR, pseudonymization is a technique that reduces the linkability of personal data to a specific data subject by replacing identifying attributes with pseudonyms1. Pseudonymization is not a sufficient measure to anonymize personal data, which means that the data cannot be attributed to an identifiable person without additional information2. Pseudonymization can help data controllers and processors to comply with the GDPR principles of data minimization, purpose limitation, and storage limitation, as well as to enhance the security and confidentiality of personal data3.

In this scenario, JaphSoft’s use of pseudonymization is not in compliance with the GDPR because of option C: JaphSoft was in possession of information that could be used to identify data subjects. This is because JaphSoft did not keep the additional information (the contact information) separately from the pseudonymized data (the identifying information), and did not apply technical and organizational measures to prevent the re-identification of the data subjects4. This means that JaphSoft could potentially link the personal data to the individuals, and therefore, the data was not effectively pseudonymized. Moreover, JaphSoft did not have a deletion process for the data it received from clients, which could violate the principle of storage limitation that requires personal data to be kept no longer than necessary for the purposes for which they are processed.

 A dynamic IP address is a unique numerical label for a device on the internet that changes every time the device connects to the internet. A dynamic IP address by itself is not personal data, as it does not directly identify the person who owns or uses the device. However, a dynamic IP address can become personal data when it is combined with other data held by the controller, such as the web pages accessed by the device, the time and duration of the visit, the location of the device, or the user’s preferences and interests. In this case, the controller can use the additional data to identify the data subject, either directly or indirectly, by linking the dynamic IP address to a specific person or a profile. This was confirmed by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the case of Breyer v Bundesrepublik Deutschland, where the CJEU ruled that a dynamic IP address registered by a website provider constitutes personal data in relation to that provider, where the latter has the legal means to obtain the identity of the data subject from the internet service provider (ISP) that assigned the dynamic IP address. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. References: Directive 95/46/EC, Directive 2002/58/EC, Breyer v Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Case C-582/14, Dynamic IP Addresses can be Personal Data

 According to the Free CIPP/E Study Guide, page 14, “if the DPIA indicates that the processing would result in a high risk in the absence of measures taken by the controller to mitigate the risk, the controller shall consult the supervisory authority prior to the processing.” This means that the controller must seek the advice of the supervisory authority when the DPIA identifies high risks that cannot be sufficiently reduced by the controller’s own measures. The other options are not necessarily cases where the consultation is required, although they may trigger other obligations under the GDPR, such as obtaining a valid legal basis, providing adequate safeguards, or informing the data subjects. References:

• Free CIPP/E Study Guide, page 14
• GDPR, Article 36

Article 30 of the GDPR requires controllers and processors to maintain records of their processing activities, which include information such as the purposes of the processing, the categories of personal data, the recipients of the data, the retention periods, and the security measures12. However, Article 30 does not require controllers to keep records of incidents of personal data breaches, whether disclosed or not. This is a separate obligation under Article 33 and Article 34, which require controllers to notify the supervisory authority and the data subjects of any personal data breach, unless the breach is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons34. References: 1: Article 30 of the GDPR 2: What do we need to document under Article 30 of the UK GDPR? | ICO 3: Article 33 of the GDPR 4: Article 34 of the GDPR

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