IAPP CIPP-E Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) Exam Practice Test

According to the CIPP/E study guide, Article 33 of the GDPR requires data controllers to notify the supervisory authority of a personal data breach without undue delay and, where feasible, not later than 72 hours after becoming aware of it, unless the breach is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons1. Article 34 of the GDPR requires data controllers to communicate the personal data breach to the data subject without undue delay when the breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons2. Both articles specify the minimum information that the data controller must provide to the supervisory authority and the data subject, which includes: the nature of the breach, the categories and approximate number of data subjects and personal data records concerned, the name and contact details of the data protection officer or other contact point, the likely consequences of the breach, and the measures taken or proposed to address the breach and mitigate its possible adverse effects12. However, neither article requires the data controller to disclose the type of security safeguards used to protect the data, as this information is not relevant for the purposes of notification and may even compromise the security of the data further3. References: 1: CIPP/E study guide, page 84; Art. 33 GDPR; Guidelines 01/2021 on Examples regarding Data Breach Notification2: CIPP/E study guide, page 85; [Art. 34 GDPR]; Guidelines 01/2021 on Examples regarding Data Breach Notification3: Personal Data Breach | European Data Protection Supervisor; What is a data breach and what do we have to do … - European Commission.

According to the GDPR, the right to be forgotten, also known as the right to erasure, is not an absolute right and only applies in certain circumstances1. One of the exceptions to this right is when the processing of personal data is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims2. In this scenario, the company may need to retain the personal data of Jack, such as his employment records, performance reviews, and internal emails, in order to defend itself against a possible legal action of unfair dismissal. Therefore, the company should not erase the data at this time, unless it is confident that it has no legal basis to keep it. The company should also inform Jack of the reasons for not complying with his request and of his right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority or a judicial remedy3. References: 1: Everything you need to know about the “Right to be forgotten”2: Article 17(3)(e) of the GDPR3: Article 12(4) of the GDPR.

According to Article 32 of the GDPR, the controller and the processor must implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk of processing personal data, taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation, and the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing, as well as the risk of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of natural persons. The GDPR also provides some examples of such measures, including the pseudonymisation and encryption of personal data, the ability to ensure the ongoing confidentiality, integrity, availability and resilience of processing systems and services, the ability to restore the availability and access to personal data in a timely manner in the event of a physical or technical incident, and a process for regularly testing, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of technical and organisational measures for ensuring the security of the processing.

In this scenario, the company is processing personal data of children, such as their voice, questions, preferences, and location, through the connected toys that use a wireless Bluetooth connection to communicate with smartphones, tablets, cloud servers, and other toys. This poses a high risk to the security of the data, as Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology that can be easily intercepted, hacked, or compromised by malicious actors. Therefore, the company should encrypt the data in transit over the Bluetooth connection, to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration of the data. Encryption is a process of transforming data into an unreadable form, using a secret key or algorithm, that can only be reversed by authorized parties who have the corresponding key or algorithm. Encryption can protect the data from being accessed or modified by anyone who does not have the key or algorithm, thus ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the data.

The other options are incorrect because:

• B. Including dual-factor authentication before each use by a child in order to ensure a minimum amount of security is not a sufficient measure to protect the data in transit over the Bluetooth connection. Dual-factor authentication is a process of verifying the identity of a user by requiring two pieces of evidence, such as a password and a code sent to a phone or email. While this may enhance the security of the user’s account or device, it does not protect the data that is transmitted over the wireless connection, which can still be intercepted, hacked, or compromised by malicious actors. Moreover, dual-factor authentication may not be suitable or convenient for children, who may not have access to a phone or email, or who may forget their passwords or codes.
• C. Including three-factor authentication before each use by a child in order to ensure the best level of security possible is not a necessary or proportionate measure to protect the data in transit over the Bluetooth connection. Three-factor authentication is a process of verifying the identity of a user by requiring three pieces of evidence, such as a password, a code sent to a phone or email, and a biometric feature, such as a fingerprint or a face scan. While this may provide a high level of security for the user’s account or device, it does not protect the data that is transmitted over the wireless connection, which can still be intercepted, hacked, or compromised by malicious actors. Furthermore, three-factor authentication may not be appropriate or feasible for children, who may not have access to a phone or email, or who may not have reliable biometric features, or who may find the process too complex or cumbersome.
• D. Inserting contractual clauses into the contract between the toy manufacturer and the cloud service provider, since South Africa is outside the European Union, is not a relevant measure to protect the data in transit over the Bluetooth connection. Contractual clauses are legal agreements that specify the obligations and responsibilities of the parties involved in a data transfer, such as the level of data protection, the rights of data subjects, and the remedies for breaches. While contractual clauses may be necessary to ensure the compliance of the data transfer to South Africa, which is a non-EU country that does not have an adequacy decision from the European Commission, they do not address the security of the data that is transmitted over the wireless connection, which can still be intercepted, hacked, or compromised by malicious actors. Moreover, contractual clauses are not a technical or organisational measure, but a legal measure, that falls under a different provision of the GDPR, namely Article 46.

References: Article 32 and Recitals (75), (76), (78), (83), and (85) of the GDPR, Security of processing, Encryption, Authentication, [Contractual clauses]

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.

Article 58 of the GDPR lists the powers of supervisory authorities in EU member states. Among these powers are the investigative powers, which include the right to access data and information from controllers and processors, as well as to access their premises and equipment. This power enables the supervisory authorities to perform their tasks of monitoring and enforcing the GDPR. The other options are not powers of supervisory authorities under Article 58 of the GDPR. References: Art. 58 GDPR – Powers, Article 58 Powers - GDPR, Article 58 GDPR - GDPRhub

 The GDPR states that the parental consent mechanism generally applies when the child is younger than 16 years1. Processing personal data will be lawful only if the child’s parent or custodian has consented to such processing2. However, Member States are allowed to lower this threshold in national legislation up to 13 years old3. This means that Member States have some choice regarding the age limit for children’s consent, as long as it is not below 13 years. The GDPR also requires that the consent request is clear and understandable for the child, and that the controller makes reasonable efforts to verify that the consent is given or authorised by the holder of parental responsibility4. References: CIPP/E Certification - International Association of Privacy Professionals, Free CIPP/E Study Guide - International Association of Privacy Professionals, GDPR - EUR-Lex, Complying with the GDPR when vulnerable people use smart devices

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, please let me know. ?.

The GDPR defines profiling as any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements12. Therefore, the relevant factors when determining if a processing activity would be considered profiling are:

• whether the processing involves data that is considered personal data;
• whether the processing of the data is done through automated means; and
• whether the processing is used to predict the behavior of data subjects.

The identity of the processor, whether it is the controller or a third-party vendor, is not relevant for the definition of profiling. However, it may have implications for the accountability and responsibility of the parties involved, as well as the data protection rights of the data subjects34. References: CIPP/E Certification - International Association of Privacy Professionals, Free CIPP/E Study Guide - International Association of Privacy Professionals, GDPR - EUR-Lex, What is automated individual decision-making and profiling? | ICO, WP29 releases guidelines on profiling under the GDPR, UK: A Guide To GDPR Profiling And Automated Decision-Making - Mondaq

Louis has the right to object at any time to the use of his data and Bedrock must honor his request to cease use.

The GDPR states that “where personal data are processed for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing” and that “where the data subject objects to processing for direct marketing purposes, the personal data shall no longer be processed for such purposes.”3

This right applies regardless of whether the data subject has previously consented to the use of his or her data, or whether the data are required for a legal claim or a legitimate interest. The data subject must be informed of this right clearly and separately from any other information at the time of the first communication with him or her, and must be provided with an easy way to exercise it.2

Therefore, Louis can object to the use of his data by Bedrock and Accidentable for direct marketing purposes, and they must stop processing his data for such purposes as soon as they receive his objection. Louis can also withdraw his consent for any other processing of his data that he has previously agreed to, such as sharing his data with Bedrock’s affiliates.4

The territorial scope of the GDPR is determined by Article 3 of the Regulation, which sets out two main criteria for applying the GDPR to the processing of personal data: the establishment criterion and the targeting criterion. The establishment criterion applies to the processing of personal data in the context of the activities of an establishment of a controller or a processor in the EU, regardless of whether the processing takes place in the EU or not. The targeting criterion applies to the processing of personal data of data subjects who are in the EU by a controller or processor not established in the EU, where the processing activities are related to the offering of goods or services to such data subjects in the EU or the monitoring of their behaviour as far as their behaviour takes place within the EU. In addition, the GDPR applies to the processing of personal data by a controller not established in the EU, but in a place where Member State law applies by virtue of public international law.

Therefore, the territorial scope of the GDPR does not depend on the membership of a country to a particular international agreement or organisation, but on the location and activities of the controller or processor and the data subjects involved in the processing. The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change that aims to limit global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It does not have any direct or indirect relevance to the GDPR or the protection of personal data. Hence, being a party to the Paris Agreement does not affect the applicability of the GDPR to a country or a controller or processor established in that country.

The other options are incorrect because they are either directly or indirectly related to the GDPR or the protection of personal data. The European Economic Area (EEA) consists of all EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EEA Agreement allows these three countries to participate in the EU’s internal market and to adopt most of the EU legislation, including the GDPR. Therefore, the GDPR applies to all EEA countries as if they were EU member states. The Treaty of Lisbon is an international agreement that amends the two treaties which form the constitutional basis of the EU. The Treaty of Lisbon introduces several changes to the EU’s institutional structure, decision-making process, and policy areas, including the recognition of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU as legally binding. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU includes the right to the protection of personal data as a fundamental right, and provides the legal basis for the GDPR. Therefore, the GDPR applies to all EU member states that are parties to the Treaty of Lisbon. The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states, including the GDPR. Therefore, the GDPR applies to all EU member states by virtue of their membership to the EU. References: Art. 3 GDPR – Territorial scope, Guidelines 3/2018 on the territorial scope of the GDPR (Article 3) - version adopted after public consultation, Paris Agreement - Wikipedia, European Economic Area - Wikipedia, Treaty of Lisbon - Wikipedia, European Union - Wikipedia

 The definition of personal data under the GDPR is broad and covers any information that relates to an identified or identifiable natural person. This means that personal data can include information such as name, email, phone number, address, date of birth, race, gender, political opinions and more. The GDPR protects personal data on all levels, platforms and technologies, and requires organizations to process it only for a specific purpose and keep it for a limited time.

The unlinked aggregated data used for statistical purposes by an Italian company would most likely NOT be covered by the definition of personal data under the GDPR. Aggregated data is data that has been processed in such a way that individual records are no longer identifiable. For example, if a company collects the names and email addresses of its customers and then calculates the average age of its customers, the resulting data is aggregated and not personal. Therefore, this type of data would not be subject to the GDPR.

However, this does not mean that the Italian company can use this type of data without any restrictions or obligations. The GDPR still applies to any processing activity that involves personal data in any form or manner. For example, if the Italian company uses this type of data to create a profile or a segment of its customers based on their characteristics or preferences, it may still need to comply with certain principles and conditions under the GDPR. For instance, it may need to obtain consent from its customers before using their aggregated data for marketing purposes; it may need to ensure that its aggregated data is accurate and up-to-date; it may need to limit the retention period of its aggregated data; and it may need to respect the rights of its customers regarding their personal data.

References:

• What is personal data? | ICO
• What is considered personal data under the EU GDPR?
• [GDPR personal data – what information does this cover?]

While Company B made several mistakes in handling Company A's employee data, not all of them would likely trigger a potential enforcement action under the GDPR. Here's an analysis of each option:

A. Omission of data protection provisions in the contract with Company C: This is a clear violation of the GDPR. Company B, as the data controller, is responsible for ensuring that any third-party processors comply with data protection requirements. By omitting data protection provisions in the contract, Company B failed to take appropriate steps to ensure the security and privacy of the personal data. This would be a likely trigger for an enforcement action.

B. Failure to provide sufficient security safeguards to Company A's data: This is another violation of the GDPR. Company B has a legal obligation to implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect personal data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. The outdated IT security system at Company C's U.S. server demonstrates a failure to meet this obligation. This would also be a likely trigger for an enforcement action.

C. Engagement of Company C to improve their payroll service: While outsourcing certain aspects of data processing is permitted under the GDPR, the data controller remains ultimately responsible for compliance. However, simply engaging another company to improve a service itself isn't necessarily a violation. As long as the proper safeguards are in place and the data processing is carried out in accordance with the GDPR, this action alone would not likely trigger an enforcement action.

D. Decision to operate without a data protection officer: The GDPR requires certain organizations to appoint a data protection officer (DPO). While Company B may be required to have a DPO depending on its size and activities, the absence of a DPO wouldn't automatically trigger an enforcement action. However, it could indicate a lack of compliance culture and contribute to other violations, increasing the likelihood of an enforcement action.

Therefore, while Company B made several mistakes, only the ones that directly violate specific data protection requirements, such as omitting data protection provisions in contracts or failing to implement appropriate security measures, are likely to trigger an enforcement action. Engaging a third-party to improve a service, as long as it's done in a compliant manner, isn't a violation in itself.

This is not a common characteristic of cloud-computing services, as the supplier usually does not assume the vendor’s business risk. In fact, the supplier often limits its liability for data breaches or losses, and the vendor remains responsible for complying with data protection laws and regulations. The other options are common characteristics of cloud-computing services, as they reflect the nature of cloud computing as a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective way of processing data, but also pose challenges for data protection and security. References:

• Free CIPP/E Study Guide, page 17, section 2.3.2
• CIPP/E Certification, page 12, section 2.3.2
• Cipp-e Study guides, Class notes & Summaries, page 23, section 2.3.2

 According to Article 32 of the GDPR, the controller and the processor shall implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk, including the pseudonymisation and encryption of personal data. Encryption is a key security measure to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of personal data, especially when it is transferred between different entities or locations. Encryption ensures that only authorised parties can access and modify the data, and prevents unauthorised or unlawful access, disclosure, alteration or destruction. Encryption also reduces the risk of data breaches and the potential harm to the data subjects. Therefore, encrypting the transferred data in transit and at rest would be the most important security measure to apply to the health data transmission. References:

• Article 32 of the GDPR
• IAPP CIPP/E Study Guide, page 58

 According to Article 47(2)(a) of the GDPR, binding corporate rules (BCRs) must be legally binding and apply to and be enforced by every member concerned of the group of undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity, including their employees1. This means that all employees within the group must comply with the BCRs, irrespective of their location or the jurisdiction where they operate. The other options are incorrect, as they do not reflect the requirements of the GDPR or the guidance of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) on BCRs23. References:

• GDPR Article 47(2)(a)
• EDPB Guidelines 3/2018 on the territorial scope of the GDPR
• EDPB Guidelines 2/2018 on derogations of Article 49 under Regulation 2016/679

 According to Article 14 of the GDPR, when a controller collects personal data from a source other than the data subject, the controller must provide the data subject with certain information, such as the identity and contact details of the controller, the purposes and legal basis of the processing, the categories of personal data concerned, the recipients or categories of recipients of the personal data, and the rights of the data subject. This information must be provided within a reasonable period after obtaining the personal data, but at the latest within one month, or at the time of the first communication with the data subject, or before disclosing the data to another recipient. The purpose of this provision is to ensure fair and transparent processing of personal data and to respect the right of the data subject to be informed. References:

• Article 14 of the GDPR, which specifies the information to be provided where personal data have not been obtained from the data subject.
• ICO guidance, which explains the requirements and exceptions of Article 14 of the GDPR.
• EDPB guidelines, which provide further guidance on the application of Article 14 of the GDPR.

 Under the GDPR, the processing of personal data of a child on the basis of consent requires the consent of the holder of parental responsibility over the child, unless the child is at least 16 years old or the applicable national law provides for a lower age (not below 13 years). However, there are some situations where the processing of personal data of a child without parental consent may be justified by other lawful grounds, such as the performance of a contract, the compliance with a legal obligation, the protection of vital interests, the performance of a task carried out in the public interest, or the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party. One of these situations is when the processing is necessary for providing preventive or counselling services to the child, especially in the context of information society services. This is recognised by Recital 38 of the GDPR, which states that:

“Children merit specific protection with regard to their personal data, as they may be less aware of the risks, consequences and safeguards concerned and their rights in relation to the processing of personal data. Such specific protection should, in particular, apply to the use of personal data of children for the purposes of marketing or creating personality or user profiles and the collection of personal data with regard to children when using services offered directly to a child. The consent of the holder of parental responsibility should not be necessary in the context of preventive or counselling services offered directly to a child.”

Therefore, the processing of personal data of a child without parental consent may be lawful if it is necessary for providing preventive or counselling services to the child, such as health, education, social or legal services, that are offered directly to the child and that aim to protect the child’s well-being, safety, development or rights. This may include, for example, online counselling platforms, sexual health advice services, anti-bullying or mental health support services, or child protection helplines. In such cases, the controller should ensure that the processing is fair, transparent, proportionate and respectful of the child’s best interests, and that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the child’s personal data and rights.

The other options are not likely to justify the processing of personal data of a child without parental consent, as they do not meet the criteria of necessity, proportionality or legitimacy. The processing of personal data of a child for market research purposes is not necessary for the performance of a contract, the compliance with a legal obligation, the protection of vital interests, the performance of a task carried out in the public interest, or the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party, and may pose significant risks to the child’s privacy and autonomy. Therefore, such processing requires the consent of the holder of parental responsibility over the child, unless the child is old enough to give their own consent. The provision of materials purely for educational use to a child may not require the processing of personal data of the child at all, or may only require the processing of minimal personal data, such as the child’s name or email address. In such cases, the processing may be based on the consent of the child, if the child is old enough to understand the implications of their consent, or on the legitimate interests of the controller, if the processing is necessary for the provision of the educational materials and does not override the interests or rights of the child. However, the controller should still inform the child and the holder of parental responsibility about the processing and provide them with the opportunity to object or withdraw their consent. The existence of a legitimate business interest does not automatically justify the processing of personal data of a child without parental consent, as the controller must also consider the impact of the processing on the rights and freedoms of the child, and whether the processing is necessary and proportionate for the pursuit of that interest. Moreover, the controller must balance the legitimate business interest against the interests or rights of the child, and ensure that the processing does not cause any harm or disadvantage to the child. If the processing involves the use of personal data of a child for the purposes of marketing or creating personality or user profiles, the controller must obtain the consent of the holder of parental responsibility over the child, unless the child is old enough to give their own consent, as these purposes pose a high risk to the child’s privacy and autonomy. References: GDPR Article 6, GDPR Article 8, GDPR Recital 38, Children and the UK GDPR | ICO, Guidelines on consent under Regulation 2016/679 - European Data Protection Board

Article 8 of the ECHR protects the right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence. However, this right is not absolute and can be subject to limitations by a public authority in accordance with the law and for a legitimate aim. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has developed a two-stage test to determine whether such limitations are justified. First, the court must examine whether there is a legitimate aim pursued by the public authority, such as national security, public safety or the prevention of crime. Second, the court must assess whether the means used by the public authority are appropriate and necessary to achieve that aim, taking into account all relevant factors such as proportionality, necessity and less restrictive alternatives12. Therefore, the right to privacy is not an absolute right but a qualified one that has to be balanced against other rights under the ECHR. References:

• Article 8 - Protection of personal data
• Your right to respect for private and family life
• Right to respect for private and family life
• Guide on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
• European Convention on Human Rights - Article 8