Sensitive personal data
Sensitive personal data covers categories requiring heightened protection, such as health, beliefs, genetics, biometrics or criminal sanctions.
Swiss data protection law gives special protection to sensitive personal data because misuse may seriously affect personality rights or expose a person to discrimination. The category includes, in substance, data on religious, philosophical, political or trade-union views, health, intimacy, racial or ethnic origin, genetic and biometric data for identification, social assistance measures, and administrative or criminal proceedings or sanctions. Processing such data may require clearer information, stricter security, explicit consent where consent is relied on, and careful assessment of risk.