Report on PIA Best Practices

3. Benefits of the PIA Process

Participants identified a number of benefits to departments associated with the PIA process:

1. The PIA process makes project planners articulate in precise terms what the project is about.
2. Privacy is considered at the front end of a project so that privacy issues are known and can be addressed early in the project planning process.
3. The PIA process presents an opportunity to communicate, discuss and increase the awareness of the Privacy Act.
4. The PIA process enhances program planning relative to privacy and results in better public policy.
5. The PIA process provides a disciplined approach to the identification and mitigation of privacy risks resulting in better information management practices.
6. The PIA process is an excellent means to learn about privacy.
7. Some departments reported a better understanding of the relationship between Program legislation and the Privacy Act.