Legal Definitions - Personal Information

Personal Information refers to any data or details that can be used, either on their own or when combined with other information, to identify a specific individual. This includes facts that directly point to a person, such as their name or a unique identification number, as well as information that, when analyzed alongside other data, could reveal someone's identity, habits, or location. The responsible handling and protection of personal information are fundamental to safeguarding an individual's privacy and preventing misuse, such as fraud or identity theft.

Here are some examples illustrating what constitutes personal information:

• Example 1: Healthcare Records

  When a patient visits a doctor's office, their medical file contains their full name, date of birth, address, contact number, medical history, current medications, and insurance policy details. This collection of data is stored by the healthcare provider.

  How this illustrates the term: Each piece of information, especially when combined, directly identifies the individual patient. The doctor's office uses this personal information to accurately identify the patient, provide appropriate treatment, and manage billing, all while ensuring the data is linked specifically to that person.

• Example 2: Online Streaming Service Usage

  A user subscribes to an online video streaming service. The service collects data such as the user's email address, payment information, viewing history (which shows, movies, and genres watched), the devices used to access the service, and the IP address from which they stream content.

  How this illustrates the term: The email and payment information directly identify the subscriber. The viewing history, device information, and IP address, while seemingly less direct, are all linked to that specific user account. This combined data creates a detailed profile of the individual's entertainment preferences and online behavior, making it personal information that can be used to identify them and tailor content recommendations.

• Example 3: Smart Home Device Data

  A homeowner installs a smart security camera system that records video footage, detects motion, and logs when people enter or leave their property. The system also connects to a mobile app that tracks the homeowner's location to automatically arm or disarm the system.

  How this illustrates the term: The video footage directly captures images of individuals, making them identifiable. The motion detection logs, combined with location data from the mobile app, create a pattern of the homeowner's presence and movements. Even without a name explicitly attached to every piece of data, this information is uniquely tied to the specific homeowner and their property, revealing personal habits and whereabouts, thus qualifying as personal information.