Personal Data
Definition
The term used by most state privacy laws outside California to describe information linked or reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable individual. Functionally similar to "personal information" but typically narrower, excluding publicly available information and de-identified data.
Legal Definition
Under the VCDPA (Va. Code 59.1-575): "any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable natural person." The term does not include de-identified data or publicly available information.
State Laws Using This Term
Practical Example
A mobile app collects a user's name, email, and device advertising ID. Under Virginia's VCDPA, all of this is "personal data" because it is linked to an identifiable person.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between personal information and personal data?
The terms are functionally similar but used by different laws. California uses "personal information" and defines it broadly to include household-level data. Most other states use "personal data" with a slightly narrower scope focused on identified or identifiable individuals.