← VCE Data Analysis

Sensitive information

A special kind of personal information, like health, ethnic origin, religion or biometric data, that the Privacy Act protects more strictly because misuse can cause serious harm.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 35, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 81, VCE Data Analytics - U4O2 - Cyber Security: Data Security — Module 93, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Data privacy and the Australian Privacy Principles — Module 4, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 29, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Privacy Principles and Digital Footprints — Module 3, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 112, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Digital Methods for Exchanging Data — Module 61, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Complex Digital Data Exchange Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 38, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Data Management — Module 90

Understanding Sensitive information in VCE Data Analysis

What it does: The code shows the stricter consent rule: if the data is sensitive and consent is missing, collection must not go ahead. The list stores common examples of sensitive information that a system should treat with extra care. Health information is sensitive information. A locker number is personal information but is not in the special category. Biometric data is based on your body, such as fingerprints or face scans. A username is ordinary personal information. The Privacy Act sets stricter rules for sensitive information because misuse can cause serious harm. Leaked health, ethnic origin or religion details can lead to serious harm, such as discrimination. That is why they have extra protection.

Common mistakes: The list should hold sensitive information types such as health and religion. A name and a suburb are ordinary personal information, not sensitive information. Sensitive information has stricter consent rules. The program must ask for explicit consent, not assume it has been given.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 25–37) and word search (Modules 25–54).

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Learning
Duo
Which of these is sensitive information under the Privacy Act?
A student's locker numberA student's medical diagnosis
Matches
A school app collects students' health conditions without asking, because it is just like a name or email
↓
Health details are sensitive information, not ordinary personal information, so the app needs clear consent first and stricter care
Applying
Meanings
Term
sensitive information
Meaning
A special kind of personal information, like health, ethnic origin, religion or biometric data, that the Privacy Act protects more strictly because misuse can cause serious harm.
Practice
sensitive = ["health", "ethnic origin", "religion", "biometric"]
Testing
Gaps
type = "biometric" THEN
Check Answer
Spots
1types ← ["name","suburb"]
2IF field IN types THEN

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Quick Questions

1. Which of these is sensitive information under the Privacy Act?
A. A student's locker number
B. A student's medical diagnosis ✓
Health information is sensitive information. A locker number is personal information but is not in the special category.
2. Which is an example of biometric data, a type of sensitive information?
A. A fingerprint scan used to unlock a school laptop ✓
B. A username typed to log in to a school laptop
Biometric data is based on your body, such as fingerprints or face scans. A username is ordinary personal information.
3. True or false: Sensitive information is protected more strictly than other personal information.
A. True ✓
B. False
The Privacy Act sets stricter rules for sensitive information because misuse can cause serious harm.
4. An app wants to collect a user's religion. What does the Privacy Act generally require?
A. No consent, because religion is public knowledge
B. The user's consent, which should be clear and informed ✓
Collecting sensitive information usually needs consent. The rules are stricter than for most other personal information.
5. Which statement explains why misuse of sensitive information is so harmful?
A. It can lead to discrimination, embarrassment or unfair treatment ✓
B. It only means the person gets more advertising emails
Leaked health, ethnic origin or religion details can lead to serious harm, such as discrimination. That is why they have extra protection.

Match the Pairs

sensitive information → A special kind of personal information, like health or religion details, that the Privacy Act protects more strictly
biometric data → Sensitive information based on body features, such as a fingerprint or face scan, used to identify a person
Sensitive information usually needs the person's consent before an organisation collects it → if (isSensitive && !hasConsent) { collect = false }
Health, religion and ethnic origin are examples of sensitive information → sensitive = ["health", "religion", "ethnic origin"]
A school app collects students' health conditions without asking, because it is just like a name or email → Health details are sensitive information, not ordinary personal information, so the app needs clear consent first and stricter care
Misusing someone's religion data is no more harmful than misusing their favourite colour → Misuse of sensitive information can cause serious harm, such as discrimination or embarrassment, which is why it is protected more strictly

Key Term

sensitive information
A special kind of personal information, like health, ethnic origin, religion or biometric data, that the Privacy Act protects more strictly because misuse can cause serious harm.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF type = "biometric" THEN sensitive ← TRUE END IF
Hint: Type the keyword that starts a decision.
2. IF sensitive = TRUE THEN consent ← "explicit" END IF
Hint: Type the stricter, clearly stated kind of consent needed for sensitive information, in lowercase.
3. IF data = "health" OR data = "ethnic" THEN sensitive ← TRUE END IF
Hint: Type the logical operator that is true when either category matches.
4. IF sensitive = TRUE THEN risk ← "high" END IF
Hint: Type the level of harm risk if this kind of data is misused, in lowercase.
5. IF data = "face scan" THEN sensitive ← TRUE END IF
Hint: Type the Boolean value that marks this biometric data as sensitive.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A types ← ["name","suburb"]
B IF field IN types THEN
C require explicit consent
D ENDIF
Line A — The list should hold sensitive information types such as health and religion. A name and a suburb are ordinary personal information, not sensitive information.
Question 2
A field ← "religion"
B IF field IS sensitive THEN
C assume consent is given
D ENDIF
Line C — Sensitive information has stricter consent rules. The program must ask for explicit consent, not assume it has been given.
Question 3
A field ← "fingerprint"
B IF field IS biometric THEN
C level ← "sensitive"
D consent ← "optional"
E ENDIF
Line D — Biometric data is sensitive information, so it needs explicit consent. Consent cannot be treated as optional, so this line should be consent ← "explicit".
Question 4
A record ← "ethnic origin"
B level ← "sensitive"
C store in locked database
D share with any company
Line D — Ethnic origin is sensitive information, so it can only be shared with the person's consent. Sharing it with any company puts the person at risk of harm.
Question 5
A type ← "religion"
B category ← "ordinary"
C PRINT "Needs extra care"
Line B — Religion is an example of sensitive information, so the category should be "sensitive". Calling it "ordinary" contradicts the message printed on line 3.

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