Understanding Personal Data: Definition and Rights
Definition of Personal Data
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) defines personal data as any information pertaining to an identified or identifiable natural person, referred to as a data subject.
Identification Criteria
An identified natural person is someone who can be directly or indirectly identified. This includes particulars such as a name, identification number, location data, online identifier, or any other factor that enables or could enable the identification of an individual.
Characteristics of Personal Data
Personal data must specifically relate to an individual, distinguishing it from general information. It can exist in electronic or paper format.
Rights Regarding Personal Data
Individuals have the right to access personal data held by an organization and request corrections if inaccuracies are identified.