Which of the following best describes "personal data"?

The definition of "personal data" fundamentally revolves around information that relates to an individual's identity. This includes any data that can be used to identify a specific person, either directly or indirectly. For example, names, identification numbers, location data, or online identifiers are all considered personal data as they can be linked back to an individual.

Recognizing personal data is essential for privacy regulations and practices. Regulations like the GDPR emphasize the protection of personal data to ensure individuals' privacy rights are upheld. The focus is on data that can truly identify a person, highlighting the importance of safeguarding such information in various contexts.

On the other hand, data collected solely by government agencies or that is publicly available does not necessarily qualify as personal data in the sense intended by privacy laws, as the former pertains to jurisdiction and the latter may lack individual identification. Additionally, while data stored in cloud services can include personal data, not all cloud-stored data is personal by nature, making it a less accurate characterization.