How is personal data defined under the Data Privacy Act?

The definition of personal data under the Data Privacy Act is centered on information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual. This is crucial because the Act focuses on protecting the privacy rights of individuals by regulating how their personal information is collected, processed, stored, and shared.

The identification can be direct, where a person is named, or indirect, where certain pieces of information could be combined to recognize someone. This broad interpretation helps safeguard individuals' rights and ensures responsible handling of their data, reflecting the growing importance of privacy in an increasingly data-driven world.

In contrast, the other options do not align with this definition. Data related to business transactions usually pertains to corporate functionality and does not focus on individual privacy. Unstructured data that does not identify individuals falls outside the scope of personal data as it does not pertain to specific persons. Lastly, general data about public records does not pertain specifically to the personal information of individuals but rather to information available in the public domain, which lacks the protection context that personal data requires under the Act.