Publish

Publish

The GDPR does not explicitly require organizations to publish their Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs). However, WP29 guidance encourages controllers to consider publishing all or part of a DPIA to foster trust and demonstrate accountability.

Why Publish a DPIA?

  • Enhances transparency – Helps build public confidence in data processing activities.
  • Demonstrates accountability – Shows compliance with GDPR obligations.
  • Recommended for public-impact processing – Publishing is considered best practice when processing affects the general public.

What Should Be Published?

Organizations do not need to release the full DPIA report. Instead, they can choose to:

  • Publish a summary outlining key findings.
  • Issue a statement confirming that a DPIA was conducted.
  • Redact sensitive details to balance transparency with confidentiality.

Supervisory Authority (SA) Guidance

Norwegian & Luxembourg SAs

Both the Norwegian and Luxembourg Supervisory Authorities recommend publishing Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) — or at least their summaries — as a way to enhance openness and strengthen public trust.

Irish DPC

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) advises that deciding whether a DPIA will be published can influence how much detail is included in the final report.

Key Takeaways

  • DPIA publication is not mandatory but is encouraged for transparency.
  • A full report is not required—a summary or confirmation statement is often sufficient.
  • Publication is especially important for public-impact processing.
  • Controllers should balance transparency with confidentiality when deciding what to disclose.

By publishing DPIAs (or summaries), organizations can reinforce public trust and demonstrate proactive compliance with GDPR requirements.