Identifiable Information

Information that can be used to identify a specific individual, either on its own or when combined with other available information. Identifiable information is the core of what constitutes personal data under privacy laws. Information is identifiable if it relates to an identified or identifiable person—someone who can be identified directly or indirectly through identifiers like names, ID numbers, location data, online identifiers, or combinations of physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social factors. The standard is whether identification is reasonably possible, not whether it's easy or guaranteed. Even if you don't know the person's actual name, if you could reasonably identify them using available means, the information is identifiable. This includes information that seems anonymous but could be re-identified by combining datasets or using additional context. Organizations should assess whether information is identifiable considering all reasonably available means of identification.