Questions for the CIPT were updated on : Dec 06 ,2025
Which Privacy by Design principle requires architects and operators to emphasize the interests of the
individual by offering measures such as strong privacy defaults, appropriate
notice, and user-friendly options?
C
Explanation:
The Privacy by Design principle that requires architects and operators to emphasize the interests of
the individual by offering measures such as strong privacy defaults, appropriate notice, and user-
friendly options is "Respect for user privacy." This principle ensures that user-centric privacy
measures are embedded into the design and operation of systems.
Reference:
IAPP CIPT Study Guide, "Privacy by Design," which outlines the seven foundational principles of
Privacy by Design, including respect for user privacy and its emphasis on user-centric measures.
Which of the following is the most important action to take prior to collecting personal data directly
from a customer?
B
Explanation:
The most important action before collecting personal data directly from a customer is to define the
purpose for collecting and using the data. This step ensures that the data collection is justified and
that customers are informed about how their data will be used, which is crucial for gaining their trust
and compliance with data protection regulations.
Reference:
IAPP CIPT Study Guide, "Data Collection and Use," which emphasizes the necessity of defining the
purpose of data collection as a key principle of data privacy and protection.
What is the key idea behind the "flow" component of Nissenbaum's contextual integrity model?
D
Explanation:
The "flow" component of Nissenbaum's contextual integrity model refers to how personal
information moves within a particular context or domain. This model emphasizes that privacy is
maintained when information flows according to norms appropriate to that context. For example,
health information shared between a patient and doctor should not be shared outside the medical
context without consent.
Reference:
IAPP CIPT Study Guide, "Privacy Frameworks and Models," which discusses Nissenbaum's contextual
integrity model and its components, including the flow of information within contexts.
Which of the following is NOT a factor to consider in FAIR analysis?
C
Explanation:
FAIR (Factor Analysis of Information Risk) analysis is a structured approach to understanding,
analyzing, and quantifying information risks. The core factors in FAIR analysis include the severity of
the harm (option A), the capability of a threat actor (option B), and the probability of a threat actor's
success (option D). The stage of the data life cycle, while important in understanding data
management practices, is not a direct factor in the FAIR analysis framework. According to IAPP
documentation, FAIR analysis focuses on quantifying risk factors to evaluate and manage privacy
risks effectively, emphasizing measurable and actionable components rather than the data life cycle
stage.
Which of the following is an example of an appropriation harm?
D
Explanation:
Appropriation harms occur when someone's personal information is used without their consent,
often for malicious purposes. An unauthorized individual obtaining access to personal information
and using it for medical fraud is a clear example of appropriation harm because it involves the
misuse of someone's personal data for fraudulent activities, potentially causing significant financial
and personal damage to the victim. The IAPP emphasizes that appropriation harms are serious
privacy violations that require stringent safeguards to protect individuals' personal data from
unauthorized use.
Which of the following would be an example of an "objective" privacy harm to an individual, based
on Calo's Harm Dimensions?
A
Explanation:
Ryan Calo's Harm Dimensions categorize privacy harms into two types: objective and subjective.
Objective privacy harms are tangible, measurable, and involve actual harm to individuals. Receiving
spam following the sale of an email address is a concrete, quantifiable harm that directly impacts the
individual by causing inconvenience and potential security risks. This contrasts with subjective
harms, which are more about perceptions and feelings, such as negative feelings derived from
government surveillance (option B). The IAPP documentation reflects this distinction by emphasizing
the importance of identifying and mitigating objective harms to ensure robust privacy protections.
What is the name of an alternative technique to counter the reduction in use of third-party cookies,
where web publishers may consider utilizing data cached by a browser and returned with a
subsequent request from the same resource to track unique users?
B
Explanation:
Browser fingerprinting is a technique used to track users by collecting information about their
browser and device characteristics, which are then used to create a unique identifier. This technique
can be employed as an alternative to third-party cookies and can track users across different sessions
and sites.
Reference:
IAPP CIPT Study Guide, "Tracking Technologies," which covers various methods of user tracking
including cookies, web beacons, and browser fingerprinting.
All of the following topics should be included in a workplace surveillance policy EXCEPT?
D
Explanation:
A workplace surveillance policy should outline critical aspects such as who can be tracked and when,
who can access the surveillance data, and what areas can be placed under surveillance. However,
detailing who benefits from collecting the surveillance data is not typically included as it may not
directly relate to privacy and security policies but rather to internal policy discussions.
Reference:
IAPP CIPT Study Guide, "Surveillance and Monitoring," which describes the necessary elements of an
effective surveillance policy.
An organization is launching a new smart speaker to the market. The device will have the capability
to play music and provide news and weather updates. Which of the following would be a concern
from a privacy perspective?
C
Explanation:
The context of authority is a privacy concern when launching a smart device like a smart speaker. This
concept involves ensuring that the device only collects, processes, and stores data within the scope
of user consent and legal regulations. Without clear boundaries, there is a risk of unauthorized data
collection and potential privacy violations.
Reference:
IAPP CIPT Study Guide, "Privacy in Emerging Technologies," which includes discussions on context-
aware computing and the importance of clear consent and authority boundaries.
Machine-learning based solutions present a privacy risk because?
A
Explanation:
Machine-learning solutions present a privacy risk primarily because the training data used during the
training phase may contain sensitive information. If this data is compromised, it can lead to privacy
breaches. Machine-learning models can also inadvertently memorize and reproduce sensitive data
from the training set.
Reference:
IAPP CIPT Study Guide, "Privacy Risks in Machine Learning," which discusses the significance of
ensuring the security and privacy of training data.
After stringent testing an organization has launched a new web-facing ordering system for its
consumer medical products. As the medical products could provide indicators of health conditions,
the organization could further strengthen its privacy controls by deploying?
D
Explanation:
Differential identifiability is a method used to ensure that data cannot be re-identified to individual
users, which is crucial when dealing with sensitive information like health conditions. This method
can help strengthen privacy controls by applying mathematical techniques to anonymize data while
preserving its utility for analysis.
Reference:
IAPP CIPT Study Guide, "Anonymization and Pseudonymization Techniques," which explains
differential privacy and identifiability as key measures for protecting sensitive data.
What element is most conducive to fostering a sound privacy by design culture in an organization?
D
Explanation:
A strong privacy by design culture within an organization is best fostered when senior management
advocates for and supports privacy initiatives. The IAPP documentation underscores that leadership
commitment is crucial for establishing and maintaining a robust privacy program. Senior
management advocacy ensures that privacy considerations are prioritized across the organization,
leading to more effective implementation of privacy by design principles and a stronger overall
privacy culture.
Which of the following methods does NOT contribute to keeping the data confidential?
D
Explanation:
Referential integrity is a database concept that ensures the validity of relationships between data
points in different tables but does not directly address data confidentiality. The methods that
contribute to data confidentiality include differential privacy, homomorphic encryption, and k-
anonymity, as these techniques are specifically designed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of
the data subjects. The IAPP emphasizes that confidentiality involves measures to prevent
unauthorized access and disclosures, which referential integrity does not inherently provide.
Which of the following best describes the basic concept of "Privacy by Design?"
C
Explanation:
"Privacy by Design" is a framework that involves embedding privacy protections into the system's
architecture from the ground up. This approach ensures that privacy is considered throughout the
entire system development lifecycle. The IAPP documents highlight that Privacy by Design requires
proactive measures to integrate privacy controls directly into technologies and business practices to
prevent privacy issues before they arise, rather than addressing them reactively.
An organization is considering launching enhancements to improve security and authentication
mechanisms in their products. To better identify the user and reduce friction from the authentication
process, they plan to track physical attributes of an individual. A privacy technologist assessing
privacy implications would be most interested in which of the following?
D
Explanation:
A privacy technologist would prioritize the encryption of individual physical attributes to ensure that
the sensitive biometric data collected for authentication is protected against unauthorized access
and breaches. The IAPP's guidelines on data security stress the importance of implementing robust
encryption methods to safeguard personal data, especially when dealing with biometric information,
which is highly sensitive and could lead to severe privacy violations if compromised.