The concept of impact assessment

This Chapter introduces the concept of impact assessment, this way laying down a foundation for the present textbook on integrated impact assessment for border control technologies. It intends to offer, in an accessible way, an overview of the said concept, eventually aiming to constitute a reference work for anybody interested in the topic. This Chapter is structured as follows. After the present introduction, it outlines the concept of impact assessment as such, namely its definition, terminology, historical development as well as its merits and drawbacks, ultimately exploring the possibility of integration of multiple evaluation techniques (Section 2). In Section 3, it offers 16 principles and conditions that apply to both the theory and practice of impact assessment (namely, the framework) and, in Section 4, it defines and describes, in a general manner, the consecutive or iterative steps to be undertaken in order to carry out the assessment process of any type and in any area of practice (namely, the method). This Chapter is to be read in conjunction with Chapter 8 and Annex 1, offering a tailored down method and template, respectively, for a report from the process of integrated impact assessment for border control technologies.This Chapter builds on the work of Vrije Universiteit Brussel’s (VUB) Brussels Laboratory for Data Protection & Privacy Impact Assessments (d.pia.lab) and, wherever necessary, revises and updates it. However, nothing in this Chapter is final as the concept of impact assessment is a ‘living instrument’, constantly necessitating a reflection on the most recent stage of its development.