This is an interesting case!! I think that email addresses are personal
data when they can be used to identify individuals on their own or
together with other co-referenced data. We have done some research in my
group here at UMIST on anonymised data and personal data identifiers
that includes this case.
The key issue is whether "sjohn@TownUniversiity" could be used to
identify a specific individual or a small number, say 5, individuals.
If this is the case then it is a domain-specific identifier and it is
personal data. This is not the case for example, if I am the data
controller and I process an email address like "[log in to unmask]" and I
don't have access to other YAHOO data. This is not personal data in this
case because it cannot identify an individualon its own or combined with
other data that the data controller posseses.
In general, it depends on who is the data controller (ISP, employer,
etc) and the other data that are processed by that data controller.
Babis
> -----Original Message-----
> From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection
> issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Stephen John
> Sent: 09 December 2002 19:06
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Personal data about a subject?
>
>
> Does a business e mail address such as
> [log in to unmask] constitute personal dat about sjohn?
>
> It seems to me it ought to as it says something about an
> individualm ie that the individaul probably works at that
> establishment
>
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