Which documents might require longer retention periods under GDPR?

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), certain documents are subject to longer retention periods due to their sensitive nature and the implications they have for individuals. Medical records fall into this category because they contain sensitive personal data that is subject to heightened protections under GDPR. The regulation mandates that data must be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected. However, medical records often need to be retained for extended periods to comply with legal, ethical, and healthcare-related standards, ensuring that individuals have access to their medical history for future treatments or for legal reasons.

In the case of employee contracts, while they do require retention, the duration is typically dictated by employment law rather than GDPR specifically. Marketing emails and internal reports usually do not contain sensitive personal data that necessitates extended retention periods specified by GDPR. Thus, medical records are uniquely positioned in this context, requiring longer retention due to their critical importance and the regulations surrounding healthcare data.