Data protection for private individuals in Switzerland

Art. 22 FADP

Data protection impact assessment

Chapter 3: Duties of the Controller and of the Processor

Statutory textStatus: 7 July 2025

1 If processing is likely to result in a high risk to the data subject's personality or fundamental rights, the controller shall carry out a data protection impact assessment beforehand. If several similar processing procedures are planned, a joint assessment may be carried out.

2 The existence of a high risk, in particular when using new technologies, depends on the nature, extent, circumstances and purpose of the processing. A high risk arises in particular:

  • a.

    in the case of the large-scale processing of sensitive personal data;

  • b.

    if public areas are systematically monitored on a large scale.

3 The data protection impact assessment shall include a description of the planned processing, an evaluation of the risks to the data subject's personality or fundamental rights and a description of the measures to protect personality and fundamental rights.

4 Private controllers are exempt from having to carry out a data protection impact assessment if they are required by law to process the data.

5 A private controller may dispense with carrying out a data protection impact assessment if it uses a system, product or service that is certified under Article 13 for the intended use, or if it complies with a code of conduct under Article 11 that satisfies the following requirements:

  • a.

    The code of conduct is based on a data protection impact assessment.

  • b.

    It provides for measures to protect the personality and the data subject's fundamental rights.

  • c.

    It has been submitted to the FDPIC.

Source: Version on FedlexThis translation is not an official version. Only the German, French and Italian versions are legally binding.

In brief

If a company plans processing with a high risk – such as extensive processing of health data or video surveillance of public areas – it must first carry out a data protection impact assessment.

What does this mean for me?

For sensitive processing, the company must consider in advance what risks arise for you and how it will reduce them.

Implementing provisions in the Data Protection Ordinance (DPO)

  1. Art. 14 DPORetention of the data protection impact assessment

Explanation by mydatenschutz.ch in plain language – not legal advice. The statutory text is authoritative.