Key Definitions
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Personal data

Last review date: 15 January 2025

It is any information about natural persons that identifies them or makes them identifiable through means that can be reasonably used.

Sensitive/special personal data (including personal data subject to additional protections/ restrictions/breach notification obligations)

Last review date: 15 January 2025

Sensitive data includes:

☒   personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin 

☒   personal data revealing political opinions 

☒   personal data revealing religious or philosophical belief 

☒   personal data revealing trade union membership 

☒   genetic data 

☒   biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person 

☒   data concerning health/medical information 

☒   data concerning a natural person's sex life or sexual orientation 

☒   financial information 

Controller vs Processor

Last review date: 15 January 2025

Do the privacy laws distinguish between controllers/owners and processors/agents? Whereby:

  • the controller/owner is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data
  • the processor/agent is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller

Answer: Yes.

A processor/agent is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body that processes personal data on behalf of the controller (according to its instructions and for its benefit).