Practical Implications for Organizations
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 5:09 am
The GDPR also considers data linkage and aggregation practices. If an organization combines an email address with other data points, such as purchase history or website browsing activity, it creates a profile that directly identifies an individual. This aggregated data becomes personal data under GDPR.
* **Publicly Available Information:** Even publicly available email addresses can be dataset personal data if they're linked to an identifiable individual. For example, a doctor's email address listed on a public website could be considered personal data, especially if it's linked to other information that can identify the doctor.
Understanding the potential for email addresses to constitute personal data has significant implications for organizations:
* **Data Collection and Consent:** Organizations must obtain informed consent from individuals before collecting and processing their email addresses. This consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous.
* **Data Minimization:** Collecting only the email address necessary for a specific purpose is crucial. Organizations should avoid collecting unnecessary data, as this could lead to an increase in the likelihood that the email address is identifiable.
* **Data Security:** Organizations must implement appropriate security measures to protect email addresses from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
* **Publicly Available Information:** Even publicly available email addresses can be dataset personal data if they're linked to an identifiable individual. For example, a doctor's email address listed on a public website could be considered personal data, especially if it's linked to other information that can identify the doctor.
Understanding the potential for email addresses to constitute personal data has significant implications for organizations:
* **Data Collection and Consent:** Organizations must obtain informed consent from individuals before collecting and processing their email addresses. This consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous.
* **Data Minimization:** Collecting only the email address necessary for a specific purpose is crucial. Organizations should avoid collecting unnecessary data, as this could lead to an increase in the likelihood that the email address is identifiable.
* **Data Security:** Organizations must implement appropriate security measures to protect email addresses from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.