A Guide to Data Protection Terminology
The following definitions are taken from the Data Protection Act
1998 Part 1.
Data or information
Information which:
- is being processed by means of equipment operating
automatically in response to instructions given for that
purpose;
- is recorded with the intention that it should be processed by
means of such equipment;
- is recorded as part of a relevant filing system or with the
intention that it should form part of a relevant filing
system;
- falls into the category of an ‘accessible record’ as defined by
Section 68 of the Data Protection Act 1998, for example, a health
record, education record or an accessible public record.
Processing
This means (but is not restricted to) the following operations
on the information or data:
- organisation
- adaptation
- alteration
- retreival
- consultation
- use
- disclosure
- dissemination
- making available
- alignment
- combination
- blocking
- erasure
- destruction
Personal Information
Data which relates to a a living individual who can be
identified from those data or from those data and other information
which is in the possession of, or is likely to come into the
possession of, the data controller. For example, name, date of
birth, address, national insurance number etc.
Sensitive Personal Information
Personal data consisting of information as to:
- the racial or ethnic origin of the data subject
- their political opinions
- their religious beliefs or other beliefs of a similar
nature
- whether they are a member of a trade union
- their physical or mental health or condition
- their sexual life
- the commission or alleged commission by them of any
offence
- any proceedings for any offence committed or alleged to have
been committed by them, the disposal of such proceedings or the
sentence of any court in those proceedings
Data Processor
Any person (other than an employee of the data controller) who
processes the data on behalf of the data controller.
Data Controller
A person who (either alone or together with other persons)
determines the purposes for which and the manner in which the
personal data are or will be processed.
Data Subject
An individual who is the subject of personal data.
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