Legitimate Interest Assessment Under The GDPR

Legitimate interest is one of the six lawful bases under the GDPR that businesses can use to process personal data. It's the most flexible basis but comes with an added responsibility to protect the rights and interests of data subjects. This basis is often appropriate when data is used in ways that individuals would reasonably expect and with minimal privacy impact.

Limitations and Considerations

While legitimate interest offers flexibility, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires a detailed and documented assessment, considering the nature of the data, the processing's impact, and the individual's reasonable expectations. Sensitive information (special categories of personal data), such as health information, demands a more compelling justification for processing under legitimate interests.