Personal data must concern a natural person, an individual human being, as opposed to a legal person, which refers to entities like companies, government institutions, NGOs, and similar organisations. Replacing the names with random codes obscures and pseudonymsises the direct connection to individuals. Yet, if the purpose of the surveillance is to identify individuals as needed, then the entire activity is considered as processing personal data, even if some individuals remain unidentifiable.
- Although the terms “personal data” and “sensitive data” are often used to describe the same thing, the GDPR makes a clear distinction between these two terms.
- Information that can identify someone when combined with other data
- Special attention must be given to the personal data aspect within their business operations to ensure GDPR compliance.
- Biometric information for securing workplace access, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, is considered sensitive personal data.
Knowing what counts as personal data helps you prevent wrong handling of such data. Understanding GDPR compliance starts with knowing when you handle personal data in your job. Learn about the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and how it protects personal data. Create privacy policies that properly address all categories of personal data you collect
According to ICO guidance on online tracking, behavioural profiles built from these data points are “clearly personal data, regardless of whether a name is attached.” GDPR-covered financial personal data includes credit and debit card details, bank account numbers and sort codes, purchase histories and transaction records, and billing information. In practical terms, this means website analytics tools, advertising platforms, and server log files all generate personal data as a matter of course. This ruling remains binding case law in the EU as of 2026.
Personal Data Breaches
This category includes information like wealth, salary, or national identification numbers—details typically not intended for public disclosure. Confidential personal data is not explicitly categorised in the GDPR but is a critical concept. For example, imagine the risks if companies could process criminal offence data without restrictions. This approach mirrors the protection of sensitive personal data under the GDPR. Processing this data is allowed only under specific conditions, such as for carrying out official duties or when the law authorises it.
Behavioural and location data
Information that might not count as PII under HIPAA can be personal data for https://master-your-business.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-cloud-computing-for-businesses/ the purposes of GDPR. As a response to these threats, many website privacy policies specifically address the gathering of PII, and lawmakers such as the European Parliament have enacted a series of legislative acts such as the GDPR to limit the distribution and accessibility of PII. Personal data is defined under the GDPR as “any information which is related to an identified or identifiable natural person”.
- They can be used to identify devices and, by extension, individuals – especially when combined with other information.
- It is important for them to consider that even if one piece of information doesn’t identify an individual, it could become relevant when combined with other information.
- Information can still be private, in the sense that a person may not wish for it to become publicly known, without being personally identifiable.
- This category includes information like wealth, salary, or national identification numbers—details typically not intended for public disclosure.
- Identification numbers are among the most sensitive forms of personal data because they are designed to be unique to one individual.
Personal data is a key aspect of online identity, but unfortunately, it can be exploited. The GDPR sets out very strict guidelines with regard to personal data and how it is used. Consent is just one of the options that companies have, as this article has shown, and in fact, it is not always the best option.
Pseudonymisation replaces direct identifiers with codes or tokens but keeps a link-back key, so the data remains personal data and all GDPR obligations continue to apply. Personal information under GDPR means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. In the United States there is no federal regulation protection for the consumer from data brokers, although some states have begun enacting laws individually. A data broker is an individual or company that specializes in collecting personal data (such as income, ethnicity, political beliefs, or geolocation data) or data about people, mostly from public records but sometimes sourced privately, and selling or licensing such information to third parties for a https://italycarsrental.com/servers-based-on-modern-kvm-technology-rental-advantages.html variety of uses. The Privacy Act of 1974 (Pub.L. 93–579, 88 Stat. 1896, enacted 31 December 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a), a United States federal law, establishes a Code of Fair Information Practice that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information about individuals that is maintained in systems of records by federal agencies. The Report highlights the need for organizations to take adequate steps to protect personal data as the mere imposition of contractual obligations and policies is insufficient if such obligations and policies are not effective or are not enforced.
Special Category Data
For example, a person’s religion or sexual orientation may be personal data without being PII under certain US frameworks. Personal data is broader – all PII is https://the-business-mag.net/can-data-breach-protocols-safeguard-your-company/ personal data, but not all personal data qualifies as PII. For organizations, this means taking a closer look at the data they collect, applying appropriate safeguards, and keeping pace with a rapidly evolving legal landscape. The definitions of PII and personal data are expanding.