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The requirement for explicit consent under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) stems from the recognition that certain categories of data are particularly sensitive and need a higher level of protection. Special categories of data include information on race, ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, health data, and sex life or sexual orientation.

Under Article 9 of the GDPR, explicit consent is indeed required to process this type of data, unless one of the other specified conditions for processing is met, such as when the processing is necessary for health care reasons or if it concerns data made public by the data subject. The regulation emphasizes the importance of ensuring that individuals have full control over their sensitive information, contributing to privacy and data protection.

This requirement for explicit consent distinguishes these sensitive categories from other data types, which may not require such rigorous consent protocols. Therefore, the answer that GDPR requires explicit consent for the processing of special categories of data is fundamentally accurate and reflects the GDPR's overarching goals of protecting individual privacy rights.