Privacy Impact Assessment¶
Step 1: Understand PIA Requirements¶
Learn when and why Privacy Impact Assessments are required.
Read: Privacy Impact Assessment FAQ
Key points: - PIAs are mandatory for high-risk AI projects in the APS - They assess risks to individuals from data handling - Early completion prevents costly redesigns - Your agency likely has a specific PIA template
Step 2: Identify Sensitive Data¶
Understand what personal information your AI system will process.
Tool: PII Masking Tool
Australian PII types detected: | Type | Examples | |------|----------| | Tax File Number | 123 456 789 | | Medicare Number | 2123 45670 1 | | ABN | 51 824 753 556 | | Phone Numbers | 0412 345 678 | | Email Addresses | name@example.gov.au | | Postal Addresses | Australian addresses |
Use this tool to scan your training data and identify what sensitive information exists.
Step 3: Consider Synthetic Alternatives¶
For some use cases, synthetic data can reduce privacy risks.
Read: Synthetic Data Fact Sheet
When synthetic data might help: - Training and testing environments - Sharing data across teams - Public demonstrations - Development and prototyping
Limitations to understand: - May not capture edge cases - Can introduce its own biases - Not suitable for all use cases - Validation still needed with real data
Step 4: Complete Your Agency's PIA¶
Work through your agency's formal PIA process.
Your PIA should address:
| Area | Key Questions |
|---|---|
| Data collection | What, why, and how? |
| Data use | Primary purpose and any secondary uses? |
| Data sharing | With whom and under what conditions? |
| Data storage | Where, how long, and security measures? |
| Individual rights | Access, correction, complaints? |
| Risk mitigation | What controls are in place? |
Get early feedback
Share draft PIA with your privacy team before finalizing. Early input saves rework.
Compliance Context¶
This journey supports compliance with:
- Privacy Act 1988
- Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
- Information Security Manual (ISM)
- Agency-specific privacy policies
Related Journeys¶
- Check for Bias - fairness testing often overlaps with privacy concerns
- Assess a New AI Opportunity - if you're still in early stages