What kind of data is considered “de-identified”?

De-identified data refers to information from which personal identifiers have been removed, making it impossible to directly link the data back to an individual. This makes the data less sensitive, as it does not reveal the identity of the individuals it pertains to.

Removing personal identifiers entails taking out elements such as names, Social Security numbers, and addresses, ensuring that the data cannot be connected to an individual without additional information. This practice is essential for maintaining privacy while still allowing useful data analyses to be conducted.

The concept of de-identification is crucial in data privacy regulations, as it allows for the utilization of data in research, analytics, and other fields without compromising individual privacy.