Nutzdaten

Nutzdaten, in information technology and data protection, are data generated through the use of a service, system or device by users or by the system itself in response to user actions. They describe how a service is used rather than the content created by a user.

Typical Nutzdaten include event and interaction data such as page views, clicks, search queries, session durations, feature usage, error reports, performance metrics, and technical identifiers (IP address, device type, timestamps). When linked to an individual, these data may constitute personal data; in anonymized or aggregated form they lose personal reference.

Nutzdaten are collected for several purposes: to operate and maintain services, monitor performance and reliability, detect fraud or security incidents, support product development and usability research, and provide analytics for business insights. They may be stored on servers controlled by the service provider or third parties, and may be transmitted across borders, subject to applicable data protection rules.

From a privacy and data protection perspective Nutzdaten are subject to principles such as lawfulness, purpose limitation, data minimization and storage limitation. If the data can identify a person, a lawful basis is required under regimes like the EU General Data Protection Regulation; users should be informed about collection, have options for consent or opt-out, and data should be pseudonymized or anonymized where feasible. Data retention policies, access controls, encryption, and audit trails help safeguard Nutzdaten. Clear data governance ensures responsible use, minimizes privacy risk, and supports compliance with regulations and contractual obligations.