What does a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) evaluate?

A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is specifically designed to evaluate how personal information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed within an organization. The primary goal of a PIA is to ensure that the handling of personal information complies with legal and regulatory requirements, effectively addressing statutory obligations related to privacy.

Compliance includes assessing whether data handling practices align with established privacy laws and frameworks, such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada. This process involves identifying potential risks to individuals' privacy and suggesting mitigation strategies, thereby ensuring that the organization respects individuals' rights and adheres to legal standards.

The other options do not accurately capture the purpose of a PIA. While aspects like the effectiveness of privacy policies may be reviewed indirectly, the core focus of the PIA remains firmly on compliance with statutory obligations concerning personal information handling. Similarly, protection of bodily integrity and the creation of public records are outside the primary scope of a PIA's objectives, which focus on privacy considerations directly linked to personal data management.