View source for Article 4 GDPR

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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 1: General provisions</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 1 GDPR|Article 1: Subject-matter and objectives]]<br />
[[Article 2 GDPR|Article 2: Material scope]]<br />
[[Article 3 GDPR|Article 3: Territorial scope]]<br />
[[Article 4 GDPR|Article 4: Definitions]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 2: Principles</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5: Principles relating to processing of personal data]]<br />
[[Article 6 GDPR|Article 6: Lawfulness of processing]]<br />
[[Article 7 GDPR|Article 7: Conditions for consent]]<br />
[[Article 8 GDPR|Article 8: Conditions applicable to child’s consent in relation to information society services]]<br />
[[Article 9 GDPR|Article 9: Processing of special categories of personal data]]<br />
[[Article 10 GDPR|Article 10: Processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences]]<br />
[[Article 11 GDPR|Article 11: Processing which does not require identification]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 3: Rights of the data subject</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 12 GDPR|Article 12: Transparent information, communication and modalities for the exercise of the rights of the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 13 GDPR|Article 13: Information to be provided where personal data are collected from the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 14 GDPR|Article 14: Information to be provided where personal data have not been obtained from the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 15 GDPR|Article 15: Right of access by the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 16 GDPR|Article 16: Right to rectification]]<br />
[[Article 17 GDPR|Article 17: Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’)]]<br />
[[Article 18 GDPR|Article 18: Right to restriction of processing]]<br />
[[Article 19 GDPR|Article 19: Notification obligation regarding rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing]]<br />
[[Article 20 GDPR|Article 20: Right to data portability]]<br />
[[Article 21 GDPR|Article 21: Right to object]]<br />
[[Article 22 GDPR|Article 22: Automated individual decision-making, including profiling]]<br />
[[Article 23 GDPR|Article 23: Restrictions]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 4: Controller and processor</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 24 GDPR|Article 24: Responsibility of the controller]]<br />
[[Article 25 GDPR|Article 25: Data protection by design and by default]]<br />
[[Article 26 GDPR|Article 26: Joint controllers]]<br />
[[Article 27 GDPR|Article 27: Representatives of controllers or processors not established in the Union]]<br />
[[Article 28 GDPR|Article 28: Processor]]<br />
[[Article 29 GDPR|Article 29: Processing under the authority of the controller or processor]]<br />
[[Article 30 GDPR|Article 30: Records of processing activities]]<br />
[[Article 31 GDPR|Article 31: Cooperation with the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 32 GDPR|Article 32: Security of processing]]<br />
[[Article 33 GDPR|Article 33: Notification of a personal data breach to the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 34 GDPR|Article 34: Communication of a personal data breach to the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 35 GDPR|Article 35: Data protection impact assessment]]<br />
[[Article 36 GDPR|Article 36: Prior consultation]]<br />
[[Article 37 GDPR|Article 37: Designation of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 38 GDPR|Article 38: Position of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 39 GDPR|Article 39: Tasks of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 40 GDPR|Article 40: Codes of conduct]]<br />
[[Article 41 GDPR|Article 41: Monitoring of approved codes of conduct]]<br />
[[Article 42 GDPR|Article 42: Certification]]<br />
[[Article 43 GDPR|Article 43: Certification bodies]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 5: Transfers of personal data</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 44 GDPR|Article 44: General principle for transfers]]<br />
[[Article 45 GDPR|Article 45: Transfers on the basis of an adequacy decision]]<br />
[[Article 46 GDPR|Article 46: Transfers subject to appropriate safeguards]]<br />
[[Article 47 GDPR|Article 47: Binding corporate rules]]<br />
[[Article 48 GDPR|Article 48: Transfers or disclosures not authorised by Union law]]<br />
[[Article 49 GDPR|Article 49: Derogations for specific situations]]<br />
[[Article 50 GDPR|Article 50: International cooperation for the protection of personal data]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 6: Supervisory authorities</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 51 GDPR|Article 51: Supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 52 GDPR|Article 52: Independence]]<br />
[[Article 53 GDPR|Article 53: General conditions for the members of the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 54 GDPR|Article 54: Rules on the establishment of the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 55 GDPR|Article 55: Competence]]<br />
[[Article 56 GDPR|Article 56: Competence of the lead supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 57 GDPR|Article 57: Tasks]]<br />
[[Article 58 GDPR|Article 58: Powers]]<br />
[[Article 59 GDPR|Article 59: Activity reports]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 7: Cooperation and consistency</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 60 GDPR|Article 60: Cooperation between the lead supervisory authority and the other supervisory authorities concerned]]<br />
[[Article 61 GDPR|Article 61: Mutual assistance]]<br />
[[Article 62 GDPR|Article 62: Joint operations of supervisory authorities]]<br />
[[Article 63 GDPR|Article 63: Consistency mechanism]]<br />
[[Article 64 GDPR|Article 64: Opinion of the Board]]<br />
[[Article 65 GDPR|Article 65: Dispute resolution by the Board]]<br />
[[Article 66 GDPR|Article 66: Urgency procedure]]<br />
[[Article 67 GDPR|Article 67: Exchange of information]]<br />
[[Article 68 GDPR|Article 68: European Data Protection Board]]<br />
[[Article 69 GDPR|Article 69: Independence]]<br />
[[Article 70 GDPR|Article 70: Tasks of the Board]]<br />
[[Article 71 GDPR|Article 71: Reports]]<br />
[[Article 72 GDPR|Article 72: Procedure]]<br />
[[Article 73 GDPR|Article 73: Chair]]<br />
[[Article 74 GDPR|Article 74: Tasks of the Chair]]<br />
[[Article 75 GDPR|Article 75: Secretariat]]<br />
[[Article 76 GDPR|Article 76: Confidentiality]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 8: Remedies, liability and penalties</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 77 GDPR|Article 77: Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 78 GDPR|Article 78: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 79 GDPR|Article 79: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a controller or processor]]<br />
[[Article 80 GDPR|Article 80: Representation of data subjects]]<br />
[[Article 81 GDPR|Article 81: Suspension of proceedings]]<br />
[[Article 82 GDPR|Article 82: Right to compensation and liability]]<br />
[[Article 83 GDPR|Article 83: General conditions for imposing administrative fines]]<br />
[[Article 84 GDPR|Article 84: Penalties]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 9: Specific processing situations</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 85 GDPR|Article 85: Processing and freedom of expression and information]]<br />
[[Article 86 GDPR|Article 86: Processing and public access to official documents]]<br />
[[Article 87 GDPR|Article 87: Processing of the national identification number]]<br />
[[Article 88 GDPR|Article 88: Processing in the context of employment]]<br />
[[Article 89 GDPR|Article 89: Safeguards and derogations relating to processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes]]<br />
[[Article 90 GDPR|Article 90: Obligations of secrecy]]<br />
[[Article 91 GDPR|Article 91: Existing data protection rules of churches and religious associations]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 10: Delegated and implementing acts</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 92 GDPR|Article 92: Exercise of the delegation]]<br />
[[Article 93 GDPR|Article 93: Committee procedure]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 11: Final provisions</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 94 GDPR|Article 94: Repeal of Directive 95: /46: /EC]]<br />
[[Article 95 GDPR|Article 95: Relationship with Directive 20: 02: /58: /EC]]<br />
[[Article 96 GDPR|Article 96: Relationship with previously concluded Agreements]]<br />
[[Article 97 GDPR|Article 97: Commission reports]]<br />
[[Article 98 GDPR|Article 98: Review of other Union legal acts on data protection]]<br />
[[Article 99 GDPR|Article 99: Entry into force and application]]<br />
</small>
</div>
</div>
|}

==Legal Text==

<br /><center>'''Article 4 - Definitions'''</center><br />

For the purposes of this Regulation:

<span id="1">1. ‘'''personal data'''’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (‘data subject’); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person;</span>

<span id="2">2. ‘'''processing'''’ means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction;</span>

<span id="3">3. ‘'''restriction of processing'''’ means the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their processing in the future;</span>

<span id="4">4. ‘'''profiling'''’ means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements;</span>

<span id="5">5. ‘'''pseudonymisation'''’ means the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organisational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person;</span>

<span id="6">6. ‘'''filing system'''’ means any structured set of personal data which are accessible according to specific criteria, whether centralised, decentralised or dispersed on a functional or geographical basis;</span>

<span id="7">7. ‘'''controller'''’ means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data; where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union or Member State law;</span>

<span id="8">8. ‘'''processor'''’ means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller;</span>

<span id="9">9. ‘'''recipient'''’ means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body, to which the personal data are disclosed, whether a third party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients; the processing of those data by those public authorities shall be in compliance with the applicable data protection rules according to the purposes of the processing;</span>

<span id="10">10. ‘'''third party'''’ means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, controller, processor and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorised to process personal data;</span>

<span id="11">11. ‘'''consent'''’ of the data subject means any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her;</span>

<span id="12">12. ‘'''personal data breach'''’ means a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed;</span>

<span id="13">13. ‘'''genetic data'''’ means personal data relating to the inherited or acquired genetic characteristics of a natural person which give unique information about the physiology or the health of that natural person and which result, in particular, from an analysis of a biological sample from the natural person in question;</span>

<span id="14">14. ‘'''biometric data'''’ means personal data resulting from specific technical processing relating to the physical, physiological or behavioural characteristics of a natural person, which allow or confirm the unique identification of that natural person, such as facial images or dactyloscopic data;</span>

<span id="15">15. ‘'''data concerning health'''’ means personal data related to the physical or mental health of a natural person, including the provision of health care services, which reveal information about his or her health status;</span>

<span id="16">16. ‘'''main establishment'''’ means:</span>

::<span id="16a">(a) as regards a controller with establishments in more than one Member State, the place of its central administration in the Union, unless the decisions on the purposes and means of the processing of personal data are taken in another establishment of the controller in the Union and the latter establishment has the power to have such decisions implemented, in which case the establishment having taken such decisions is to be considered to be the main establishment;</span>
::<span id="16b">(b) as regards a processor with establishments in more than one Member State, the place of its central administration in the Union, or, if the processor has no central administration in the Union, the establishment of the processor in the Union where the main processing activities in the context of the activities of an establishment of the processor take place to the extent that the processor is subject to specific obligations under this Regulation;</span>

<span id="17">17. ‘'''representative'''’ means a natural or legal person established in the Union who, designated by the controller or processor in writing pursuant to [[Article 27 GDPR|Article 27]], represents the controller or processor with regard to their respective obligations under this Regulation;</span>

<span id="18">18. ‘'''enterprise'''’ means a natural or legal person engaged in an economic activity, irrespective of its legal form, including partnerships or associations regularly engaged in an economic activity;</span>

<span id="19">19. ‘'''group of undertakings'''’ means a controlling undertaking and its controlled undertakings;</span>

<span id="20">20. ‘'''binding corporate rules'''’ means personal data protection policies which are adhered to by a controller or processor established on the territory of a Member State for transfers or a set of transfers of personal data to a controller or processor in one or more third countries within a group of undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity;</span>

<span id="21">21. ‘'''supervisory authority'''’ means an independent public authority which is established by a Member State pursuant to [[Article 51 GDPR|Article 51]];</span>

<span id="22">22. ‘'''supervisory authority concerned'''’ means a supervisory authority which is concerned by the processing of personal data because:</span>

::<span id="22a">(a) the controller or processor is established on the territory of the Member State of that supervisory authority;</span>

::<span id="22b">(b) data subjects residing in the Member State of that supervisory authority are substantially affected or likely to be substantially affected by the processing; or</span>

::<span id="22c">(c) a complaint has been lodged with that supervisory authority;</span>

<span id="23">23. ‘'''cross-border processing'''’ means either:</span>

::<span id="23a">(a) processing of personal data which takes place in the context of the activities of establishments in more than one Member State of a controller or processor in the Union where the controller or processor is established in more than one Member State; or</span>

::<span id="23b">(b) processing of personal data which takes place in the context of the activities of a single establishment of a controller or processor in the Union but which substantially affects or is likely to substantially affect data subjects in more than one Member State.</span>

<span id="24">24. ‘'''relevant and reasoned objection'''’ means an objection to a draft decision as to whether there is an infringement of this Regulation, or whether envisaged action in relation to the controller or processor complies with this Regulation, which clearly demonstrates the significance of the risks posed by the draft decision as regards the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects and, where applicable, the free flow of personal data within the Union;</span>

<span id="25">25. ‘'''information society service'''’ means a service as defined in point (b) of Article 1(1) of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council;</span> 

<span id="26">26. ‘'''international organisation'''’ means an organisation and its subordinate bodies governed by public international law, or any other body which is set up by, or on the basis of, an agreement between two or more countries.</span>

==Relevant Recitals==
===Personal Data===
{{Recital/14 GDPR}}{{Recital/15 GDPR}}{{Recital/26 GDPR}}{{Recital/27 GDPR}}{{Recital/29 GDPR}}{{Recital/30 GDPR}}

==Commentary==
Article 4 GDPR provides a list of definitions used to further specify relevant notions used throughout the GDPR. 

In the case of new definitions, on the other hand, there is scope for new interpretations. 

Some definitions are taken from the preceding [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:31995L0046&from=EN Directive 95/46/EC], allowing an understanding to build on the already existing terms. Others definitions, however, are newly introduced, modified or complemented with additional elements and therefore require a new interpretation. 

In order to avoid linguistic inconsistencies leading to an inconsistent application of the law, it should be noted that the Regulation is legally binding in all official languages of the EU. Therefore, whenever in doubt of the interpretation, other language versions may be consulted to identify and resolve discrepancies. 

===(1) Personal Data===
The principal concept of the GDPR is that of ‘personal data’.<ref>European Commission: [https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/reform/what-personal-data_en What is personal data?]; its antonym is defined in [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1807/oj Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1807].</ref>

Its definition is an extension of the previously existing definition under [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:31995L0046&from=EN Article 2 (a) Directive 95/46/EC].<ref name="com-2012-11-p9">COM(2012) 11 final - 2012/12 (COD), 27 January 2012, [https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-5853-2012-INIT/en/pdf#page=9 p. 9].</ref> The Directive itself derives the definition from [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:51990DC0314#page=19 Article 2 (a) Convention 108]<ref name="com-90-314-p19">COM (90) 314 final - SYN 287 and SYN 188, 30 September 1990, [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:51990DC0314#page=19 p. 19].</ref>, according to which <cite>“personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual (“data subject”)</cite>.<ref name="">Article 2 (a) European Council [https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/108 Convention No. 108]</ref>

The definition can be divided into the four requirements of (1) ‘any information’ (2) ‘relating to’ (3) ‘an identified or identifiable’ (4) 'individual' requiring their cumulative fulfilment in order to satisfy the notion of personal data.
====Any Information====
With the expression of ‘any information’, the legislator underlines the willingness to keep the term ‘personal data’ as broad as possible.

In this regard, the German Constitutional Court already in 1983 stated that "<cite>Under the conditions of automatic data processing, there is no longer meaningless data.</cite>"<ref>Bundesverfassungsgericht, 15 December 1983, 1 BvR 209/83, 269/83, 362/83, 420/83, 440/83, 484/83, margin number 150 (available here https://www.bverfg.de/e/rs19831215_1bvr020983.html):
:<cite>The nature of the information cannot be the only factor to be taken into account. What is decisive is their usability and applicability. These depend, on the one hand, on the purpose for which the data is collected and, on the other hand, on the processing and linking possibilities inherent in information technology. This can give a date that is in itself meaningless a new significance; in this respect, there is no longer ‘meaningless’ data under the conditions of automatic data processing.<br>''Dabei kann nicht allein auf die Art der Angaben abgestellt werden. Entscheidend sind ihre Nutzbarkeit und Verwendungsmöglichkeit. Diese hängen einerseits von dem Zweck, dem die Erhebung dient, und andererseits von den der Informationstechnologie eigenen Verarbeitungsmöglichkeiten und Verknüpfungsmöglichkeiten ab. Dadurch kann ein für sich gesehen belangloses Datum einen neuen Stellenwert bekommen; insoweit gibt es unter den Bedingungen der automatischen Datenverarbeitung kein „belangloses“ Datum mehr.''</cite></ref> This position was recently also supported by the Commission, stating that <cite>''"any item of data relating to an individual, harmless though it may seem, may be sensitive",''</cite><ref>COM(90) 314, 13 final, September 1990, p. 19 (available [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:51990DC0314#page=19 here]).</ref> thereby also following the wish of the Council to keep the definition as general as possible.<ref>COM (92) 422 final, 28.10.1992, p. 10, cited in WP29, Opinion 4/2007 on the concept of personal data, 20 June 2007, p. 4 (available [https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2007/wp136_en.pdf#page=4 here]).</ref>    

In this regard, the European Court of Human Rights made clear that:
:<cite>“private life” must not be interpreted restrictively. In particular, respect for private life comprises the right to establish and develop relationships with other human beings [...] there is no reason of principle to justify excluding activities of a professional or business nature from the notion of “private life”</cite><ref>European Court of Human Rights. ''Amann v. Switzerland'' [GC], no. [http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-58497 27798/95]</ref>

Accordingly, personal data can relate directly to the data subject or any of their interaction with the environment. The term includes information regarding the individual’s private and family life as well as information regarding the working, economic or social behaviour of the individual. It includes information regardless of the position or capacity of the individual (as consumer, patient, employee or customer, etc).<ref>WP29, Opinion 4/2007 on the concept of personal data, 20 June 2007, [https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2007/wp136_en.pdf#page=6 p. 6f]</ref> 

Information can be ‘objective’ such as a blood characteristic of a data subject, as well as ‘subjective’ in the form of opinions or assessments. The latter type of information constitutes a significant part of the processing of personal data in sectors such as banking, for the assessment of the reliability of borrowers (‘An individual is a reliable borrower’), insurance (‘An individual should not die in the near future’) or employment (‘An individual is a good worker and deserves promotion’).<ref>WP29, Opinion 4/2007 on the concept of personal data, 20 June 2007, [https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2007/wp136_en.pdf#page=6 p. 6].</ref>

It is not necessary for the information to be true, proven or complete. In fact, the GDPR provides for the possibility that the information is incorrect and gives the data subject the right to access this information ([[Article 15 GDPR]]) and to rectify it ([[Article 16 GDPR]]).<ref>WP29, Opinion 4/2007 on the concept of personal data, 20 June 2007, [https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2007/wp136_en.pdf#page=6 p. 6].</ref>

With regard to the format or medium of the information, the term ‘personal data’ includes data in alphabetical, numerical, graphic, photographic, acoustic or any other form of Information. This includes information on paper as well as information stored on a computer in binary form or on tape.

Examples are:

{{Collapse
|2 = Videosurveillance:<ref>WP29, Opinion 4/2007 on the concept of personal data, 20. June 2007 [https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2007/wp136_en.pdf WP 136 p. 8].</ref>
|1 = Images of individuals captured by a video surveillance system can be personal data to the extent that the individuals are recognizable. 
}}

{{Collapse
|2 = Telephone Banking:<ref>WP29, Opinion 4/2007 on the concept of personal data, 20. June 2007 [https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2007/wp136_en.pdf WP 136 p. 8].</ref>
|1 = In telephone banking, where the customer's voice giving instructions to the bank are recorded on tape, those recorded instructions should be considered as personal data.
}}

{{Collapse
|2 = Professional habits:<ref>WP29, Opinion 4/2007 on the concept of personal data, 20. June 2007 [https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2007/wp136_en.pdf WP 136 p. 7].</ref>
|1 = Drug prescription information (e.g. drug identification number, drug name, drug strength, manufacturer, selling price, new or refill, reasons for use, reasons for no substitution order, prescriber's first and last name, phone number, etc.), whether in the form of an individual prescription or in the form of patterns discerned from a number of prescriptions, can be considered as personal data about the physician who prescribes this drug, even if the patient is anonymous. 
}}

{{Collapse
|2 = Child's drawings:<ref>WP29, Opinion 4/2007 on the concept of personal data, 20. June 2007 [https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2007/wp136_en.pdf WP 136 p. 8].</ref>
|1 = As a result of a neuro-psychiatric test conducted on a girl in the context of a court proceeding about her custody, a drawing made by her representing her family is submitted. The drawing provides information about the girl's mood and what she feels about different members of her family. The drawing will indeed reveal information relating to the child (her state of health from a psychiatric point of view) and also about e.g. her father's or mother’s behaviour. These Drawings could be considered as “personal data”. 
}}

====Relating to====

====Identified or Identifiable====

====Natural Person====

====Examples====
*name, date of birth, nationality, gender, ethnicity, religion and language<ref>Judgment of the Court, Joined Cases [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=155114 C‑141/12 and C‑372/12], 17. July 2014, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2014:2081 ECLI:EU:C:2014:2081] CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62012CJ0141 62012CJ0141], CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62006CA0524 62006CA0524]</ref>
*place of birth, nationality, marital status, sex, record of entries into and exits from a a country, residence status, particulars of passports issued, previous statements as to domicile, reference numbers issued by an authority, reference numbers used by authorities<ref>Judgment of the Court, Case [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=76077 C-524/06], 16. December 2008, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2008:724 ECLI:EU:C:2008:724], CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62006CJ0524 62006CJ0524]</ref>
*municipality of residence, information concerning the earned and unearned income and assets of that person<ref>Judgment of the Court, Case [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?docid=76075&doclang=EN C-73/07], 16 December 2008, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2008:727 ECLI:EU:C:2008:727], CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62007CJ0073 62007CJ0073]</ref>

*data, which relate both to the monies paid by certain bodies and the recipients<ref>Judgment of the Court, Joined Cases [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=48330 C-465/00, C-138/01 and C-139/01], 20. May 2003, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2003:294 ECLI:EU:C:2003:294] CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62000CJ0465 62000CJ0465] </ref>

*name of a person in conjunction with his telephone coordinates or information about his working conditions or hobbies<ref>Judgment of the Court, Case [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=48382 C-101/01], 6. November 2003, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2003:596 ECLI:EU:C:2003:596], CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62001CJ0101 62001CJ0101]</ref>

*the times when working hours begin and end, as well as the corresponding breaks and intervals<ref>Judgment of the Court, Case [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=137824&doclang=EN C-342/12], 30 May 2013, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2013:355 ECLI:EU:C:2013:355], CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62012CJ0342 62012CJ0342]</ref>

*dynamic [[wikipedia:IP_address|IP address]]<ref>Judgment of the Court, Case [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?docid=184668&doclang=EN C-582/14],  19 October 2014, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2016:779 ECLI:EU:C:2016:779], CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62014CJ0582 62014CJ0582]</ref>
*written exams<ref>Judgment of the Court, Case [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?docid=198059&doclang=EN C‑434/16], 20 December 2017, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2017:994 ECLI:EU:C:2017:994], CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62016CJ0434 62016CJ0434]</ref>
*fingerprints<ref>Judgment of the Court, Case [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=143189 C‑291/12], 17. Oktober 2013, [https://e-justice.europa.eu/ecli/ECLI:EU:C:2013:670 ECLI:EU:C:2013:670], CELEX:[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62012CJ0291 62012CJ0291]</ref>

===(2) Processing===
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===(3) Restriction of processing===
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===(4) Profiling===
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===(5) Pseudonymisation===
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===(6) Filing system===
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===(7) Controller===
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===(8) Processor===
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===(9) Recipient===
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===(10) Third party===
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===(11) Consent===
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===(12) Personal data breach ===
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===(13) Genetic data===
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===(14) Biometric data===
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===(15) Data concerning health===
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===(16) Main establishment===
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===(17) Representative===
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===(18) Enterprise===
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===(19) Group of undertakings===
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===(20) Binding corporate rules===
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===(21) Supervisory authority===
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===(22) Supervisory authority concerned===
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===(23) Cross-border processing===
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===(24) Relevant and reasoned objection===
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===(25) Information society service ===
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===(26) International organisation===
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=== Other Definitions ===
Article 4 GDPR is not the only provision defining relevant terms for the GDPR. The Regulation contains other articles, that directly or indirectly delivering definitions, such as: 
*[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5(1)(a) GDPR]]: ‘lawfulness, fairness and transparency’,
*[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5(1)(b) GDPR]]: ‘purpose limitation’,
*[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5(1)(c) GDPR]]: ‘data minimisation’,
*[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5(1)(d) GDPR]]: ‘accuracy’,
*[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5(1)(e) GDPR]]: 'storage limitation’,
*[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5(1)(f) GDPR]]: ‘integrity and confidentiality’,
*[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5(2) GDPR]]: ‘accountability’,
*[[Article 8 GDPR]]: ‘child’,
*[[Article 9 GDPR]]: ‘special categories of personal data’,
*[[Article 51 GDPR]]: ‘supervisory authority’,
*[[Article 68 GDPR]]: ‘European Data Protection Board’.
For further information please see the commentary on the respective Articles.

==Decisions==
→ You can find all related decisions in [[:Category:Article 4 GDPR]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:GDPR Articles]]