Fact · Voice privacy and security
The UK regulator says biometric data is special category data whenever it is processed for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“Biometric data is also special category data whenever you process it “for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person”.”
What is special category data? (UK ICO guidance), Information Commissioner's Office (UK), 2025, What is biometric data?.
Open the original- What it measures
- The purpose decides the category. The same audio can be ordinary personal data when it is only transcribed and special category data when it is used to identify the speaker.
- What it does not show
- Guidance rather than statute. The EU rule is in Article 9(1) of the GDPR.