Just read about an interesting case from the UK Court of Appeal last month concerning whether or not a person's name alone can be classified as personal data under the Data Protection Act, or whether further biographical information is needed for it to be so classified.
The Court has ruled that a person's name does constitute personal data under the Act, unless it is so common that further detail is needed to identify an individual - and further that personal data is information that relates to a living individual who can be identified, regardless of whether they can be traced or contacted.
The case is explored at http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=0ddaaf24-2b0a-43f4-888a-9a69c7c51429 , http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/12/common_names_may_not_constitute_personal_data_says_court_of_appeal/ and http://www.mablaw.com/2014/03/edem-ico-fsa-personal-data/.
(I picked this up on Twitter earlier and favourited the page - apologies to whoever the original tweeter was, I can't now find your name!)
Chris
Time to find your inner Irish...! All the best online Irish genealogy resources can be found through my book Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet - in print and ebook formats. "Very useful, makes me wish I was Irish!" - Saint Patrick, patron saint.
The key word is LIVING individual, as stated in the Data Protection Act. I once had a research centre worker argue that the dead came under the Act as well. They don't.
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