Legitimate Interest Assessment (LIA)

A Legitimate Interest Assessment, or LIA, is a documented process used to determine whether an organization can rely on legitimate interests as a lawful basis for processing personal data.

An LIA typically considers three elements: the legitimate purpose being pursued, whether the processing is necessary to achieve that purpose, and whether the individual's interests or rights outweigh the organization's interests.

The assessment may also consider reasonable expectations, the sensitivity of the information, potential harm, and safeguards used to reduce risk.

Documenting an LIA helps organizations demonstrate why relying on legitimate interests was appropriate and supports accountability under the GDPR.