identiteedandmed

Identiteedandmed is an Estonian compound word that translates to "identity data" and refers to any information that uniquely identifies or helps to identify an individual. The term is used in contexts of data protection, identity management and digital services to describe both traditional identifiers and modern digital credentials.

Common types of identiteedandmed include names, dates of birth, national identification numbers, addresses, contact details, biometric markers (fingerprints, facial images), authentication credentials (passwords, tokens) and device or session identifiers. These data elements are used for authentication, authorization, provisioning services, fraud prevention and legal compliance.

Because identiteedandmed can directly link to an individual, it is treated as sensitive under many legal frameworks and subject to specific protections. Data minimization, purpose limitation, informed consent, the right to access or correct data, and secure processing are typical regulatory requirements. International frameworks such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) influence how such data are handled across jurisdictions.

Security and governance practices for identiteedandmed include encryption, access controls, strong authentication, pseudonymisation or anonymization where possible, audit logging, and regular risk assessments or DPIAs (data protection impact assessments). Emerging challenges include biometric use, interoperable digital identity systems, cross-border data flows and the role of artificial intelligence in identity verification. Effective management balances utility for services with safeguards to protect privacy and prevent misuse.