Types of personal data: Overview, definition, and example
What are types of personal data?
Types of personal data refer to the various categories or forms of information that can be used to identify an individual, either directly or indirectly. Personal data can include any information related to an identified or identifiable person, and is typically collected by businesses, organizations, or government agencies for a variety of purposes such as customer service, marketing, employee management, or legal compliance.
Under data protection laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), personal data is classified into different categories, ranging from basic identifiers to sensitive personal data. The classification is important for determining the level of protection and how the data should be handled by organizations.
Why are types of personal data important?
Understanding the types of personal data is crucial for organizations to comply with data protection laws, maintain privacy, and ensure that personal information is handled securely. Some types of personal data require stricter safeguards due to their sensitive nature, such as health data or racial/ethnic information.
By classifying personal data and understanding its different types, organizations can implement appropriate data security measures, improve transparency with customers, and mitigate risks related to data breaches, identity theft, or legal non-compliance.
Understanding types of personal data through an example
Imagine a company, XYZ Tech, that collects personal data from users of its software application. XYZ Tech collects various types of data, including:
- Basic personal identifiers: Name, address, email address, phone number.
- Financial information: Credit card numbers, billing addresses.
- Sensitive personal data: Health-related information, such as details about a user’s medical condition (if the app tracks fitness or health data).
- Behavioral data: User preferences, browsing history, and usage patterns within the app.
- Demographic data: Age, gender, and occupation of users.
XYZ Tech must treat sensitive data like health-related information with additional safeguards, as it is subject to more stringent legal protections under data privacy regulations.
Types of personal data with examples:
- Identifying data:
- Definition: This includes basic details that directly identify an individual.
- Examples: Full name, date of birth, national identification number, passport number.
- Contact data:
- Definition: Information that allows communication with an individual.
- Examples: Email address, phone number, mailing address.
- Sensitive personal data:
- Definition: Data that is particularly sensitive and requires higher levels of protection.
- Examples: Racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, health data, genetic data, biometric data.
- Financial data:
- Definition: Information related to an individual’s financial situation or transactions.
- Examples: Bank account numbers, credit card information, income, credit history.
- Employment data:
- Definition: Information related to an individual’s employment status or career.
- Examples: Job title, employer details, salary, employment history, tax identification number.
- Behavioral data:
- Definition: Data that tracks an individual’s actions, preferences, and interactions.
- Examples: Browsing history, app usage, purchase history, user preferences.
- Demographic data:
- Definition: Data that categorizes individuals into groups based on certain characteristics.
- Examples: Age, gender, marital status, education level, location, occupation.
An example of types of personal data in a privacy policy:
Here’s how different types of personal data might be outlined in a privacy policy:
“We collect the following types of personal data: (i) Identifying data such as your full name and date of birth, (ii) Contact data, including your email address and phone number, (iii) Financial information like your credit card number for transactions, (iv) Sensitive data such as health-related information when you use our fitness app, and (v) Behavioral data including your browsing history and preferences on our website.”
Conclusion
Types of personal data are crucial to understanding privacy risks and ensuring compliance with data protection laws. Organizations must categorize and manage different types of personal data appropriately to protect individuals' privacy and prevent misuse. By classifying personal data and understanding the specific protections required for each category, businesses can safeguard personal information, reduce the risk of data breaches, and maintain trust with their customers.
This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Cobrief is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.