Tim
> It is relatively simple to see that 'shoe size' in isolation is not
> personal
> data, but that "Tim Trent's shoe size is X" is personal data.
How does that statement uniquely identify a single individual?
Doesn't do it for me without additional data being available or being
created by assumptions.
David
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Trent" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 2:26 PM
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Research
> The real issue is always context.
>
> "What is personal data?" or "Is 'shoe size' personal data?" are not
> questions that can be posed in isolation. Ignoring the word "Living" at
> present, the question to be posed is "Is 'shoe size' personal data if it
> is
> linked in some precise manner to a particular individual?"
>
> It is relatively simple to see that 'shoe size' in isolation is not
> personal
> data, but that "Tim Trent's shoe size is X" is personal data.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Turner
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 1:46 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [data-protection] FW: [data-protection] Research
>
> I think I understand what they are saying, and I think that they have a
> point.
>
> There are people who operate less on a clear understanding of the
> legislation, and more on a fuzzy, almost incoherent set of assumptions and
> instincts. They then get annoyed with people at the Commissioner's office,
> when they stick to what the words in the Act (and associated regulations)
> actually say, rather than what these people want to hear. Some people seem
> to fix upon concepts like privacy and confidentiality when what they
> should
> be doing is concentrating on what the Act (and for example the Privacy and
> Electronic Communications Regs) say. If all else fails, people cling to
> the
> notion of the "spirit of the Act", which is ironic given how soulless the
> DPA actually is.
>
> I witnessed so-called experts in heated debate about what personal data is
> all about, but to be honest, such debates are usually more about instinct
> and assumption that hard fact. I'm not saying I'm necessarily any
> different,
> but I don't think that there is a clear, legally-sound definition of
> "personal data" around which everyone can warm their hands. If there was
> one, whatever it was, a significant minority would immediately reject it
> as
> too broad, or two narrow.
>
> Tim Turner
> Data Protection Officer
> Wigan Council
>
>> ----------
>> From: John Hughes[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>> Reply To: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: 02 December 2004 12:53
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: [data-protection] FW: [data-protection] Research
>>
>> Interesting sentence on page 7 of "What are personal data":
>>
>> "Where there is a large literature on data protection, the
>> interpretation of 'personal data' is seldom addressed, and the meaning
>> of the concept tends to be assumed rather than rigorously analysed."
>>
>> Funny, I rather had the impression that it had been analysed to death
>> and pulled to pieces in a dozen different directions. Nor am I aware
>> of anyone who is involved in the application of data protection having
>> assumptions about its meaning - very much the opposite. It stikes me
>> as a very strange comment.
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: DREW Nic [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: 02 December 2004 08:20
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: [data-protection] Research
>>
>>
>> The IC has published Research Finding's on, amongst other things,
>> "What are personal data"
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/eventual.aspx?id=6841
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Nic
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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