This Guideline will assist anyone who needs to determine if information is or is not personal information.
Personal information1 is information or opinion...whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion.
Determining if information is personal information involves a two step process. Step one is to decide if the information identifies an individual. Step two is to decide if the information is about the individual.
The checklist in Appendix A (PDF, 49.91 KB) is a guide developed to assist in applying this test. It is important to remember, however, that decisions about whether information is personal information should be made on a case by case basis in the circumstances and context specific to each situation.
Current as at: October 19, 2011