personal data
Your digital footprint
Personal data is information that identifies or can be used to identify a specific individual, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, or biometric records.
The term gained prominence with digital privacy laws like GDPR, which regulate how organizations collect, store, and use such information.
Personal data extends beyond obvious identifiers to include IP addresses, location data, and online behavior patterns that could reveal someone's identity.
The company was fined for mishandling customers' personal data.
EU data protection law
- HIPAAMedical privacy statute
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- opt-outChoose not to participate
- right to be forgottenLegal power to delete records
anonymization · pseudonymization · privacy policy · cookie policy · erasure · portability · safe harbor · tracking
State-assigned citizen identifier
- passportGovernment-issued travel credential
- driver's licenseOfficial driving permit
- birth certificateOfficial record of arrival
- national IDState-issued citizen document
fingerprint · biometrics · DNA · surname · forename · date of birth · photograph · signature
Device's unique network number
- cookiesSmall sweet baked goods
- browsing historyLog of visited sites
- digital footprintTraceable internet activity history
- usernameAccount identification string
password · search history · online activity · metadata · geolocation · chat logs · cloud storage
Converting data into code
- two-factor authenticationIdentity confirmation requiring two proofs
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- cybersecurityProtection of digital systems
firewall · VPN · secure storage · access control · authentication · authorization · password protection · hacking
Documented patient health history
- financial recordsDocumented fiscal transactions
- employment historyLog of past positions
- credit historyRecord of past borrowing
- tax recordsOfficial income documentation
bank statements · criminal record · genetic information · voter registration · property records
GDPR
EU data protection law
right to be forgotten · anonymization · pseudonymization · privacy policy · cookie policy · erasure · portability · safe harbor · tracking · surveillance
social security number
State-assigned citizen identifier
- passportGovernment-issued travel credential
- driver's licenseOfficial driving permit
- birth certificateOfficial record of arrival
national ID · fingerprint · biometrics · DNA · surname · forename · date of birth · photograph · signature · gender
IP address
Device's unique network number
- cookiesSmall sweet baked goods
- browsing historyLog of visited sites
- digital footprintTraceable internet activity history
username · password · search history · online activity · metadata · geolocation · chat logs · cloud storage
encryption
Converting data into code
- two-factor authenticationIdentity confirmation requiring two proofs
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
cybersecurity · firewall · VPN · secure storage · access control · authentication · authorization · password protection · hacking · dark web
medical records
Documented patient health history
- financial recordsDocumented fiscal transactions
- employment historyLog of past positions
- credit historyRecord of past borrowing
tax records · bank statements · criminal record · genetic information · voter registration · property records
- workplace privacyprivacy policies, privacy policy, personnel files, confidentiality, email monitoring
- privacyprivacy, private, seclusion, confidentiality, solitude
- private spherehome, family, diary, secrets, bedroom
- data privacyGDPR, de-identification, consent, privacy policy, k-anonymity
- privacy lawprivacy breach, consent form, privacy policy, CCPA, opt-in
- privacy policiesconsent forms, opt-out, opt-in, cookies, user consent
personal datapublic records
Officially filed, publicly accessible documents
public information · open data · government records · press releases · common knowledge
personal datastatistical data
Quantified information for analysis
metadata · environmental data · demographic trends · telemetry
personal, data, personality, persona, personally, impersonal, impersonate, personalize, personage