Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What categories of personal data exist, and what are some common sources where personal data can be found?
Personal data spans everything from your name to your browsing habits, and it's scattered across far more sources than most people realize.
Categories of personal data:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Identity data | Name, demographics, biometrics. |
| Technical data | Telecom records, geographic data, online activity. |
| Education and career | Degrees, certificates, employment, skills. |
| Financial data | Bank info, assets, transactions. |
| Social data | Relationships, memberships, hobbies. |
| Internal | Beliefs, knowledge, preferences, authentication info. |
| External | Physical characteristics, identifying info, ethnicity. |
| Historical | Personal history, events in someone's life. |
| Tracking | Device info, contact details, location data. |
Sources where your data lives (often without you knowing):
- Search engines.
- Social media and messaging platforms.
- Electronic directories: phone books, commercial registers, tax records, land registries, vehicle registries.
- Bulletin boards: births, deaths, events, naturalizations.
- Public institutions and their directory services.
- Research data sharing.