Kohdehenkilön

Kohdehenkilön is the genitive form of the Finnish term kohdehenkilö, which translates roughly to “the target person” or “the subject of interest.” The word is used to indicate the person who is the focus of a particular process, study, investigation, or action. The genitive form kohdehenkilön signals possession or relation, as in phrases like kohdehenkilön oikeudet (the rights of the target person) or kohdehenkilön vapaaehtoinen suostumus (the target person’s voluntary consent).

Kohdehenkilö/kohdehenkilön is used across several fields to designate the individual who is being observed, analyzed, or affected. In research and evaluation, the kohdehenkilö is the person from whom data are collected. In media production or outreach work, the term helps distinguish the person at the center of a narrative or intervention. In security or investigative contexts, it may refer to the person who is the focus of monitoring or inquiry. While the term is descriptive, its use can carry sensitive implications depending on context, particularly when it concerns surveillance or privacy.

Ethical and legal considerations are important when referring to kohdehenkilön. Handling of information about the kohdehenkilö is subject to data protection laws and ethical guidelines, including consent, minimization of data collection, and safeguards for privacy. Terminology should be employed with care to ensure clarity and respect for the rights of the person described.

See also: kohdehenkilö, henkilötietojen suoja, data protection.