The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) establishesthe rights and duties that are designed to safeguard personal information. 

In terms of POPIA, the legitimate needs of organisations to collect and use personal information for business and other purposes are balanced against the right of individuals to have their privacy respected, in the form of their personal details. 

According to the POPI Act, personal information is information relating to an identifiable, living, natural person, and where it is applicable, an identifiable, existing juristic person. 

Further to the POPI Act, The Data Company also includes the following items as personal information:

• Any information relating to an identifiable, living natural person or juristic person and includes, amongst others, the following: 
• • Identity number, 
  • Email address, 
  • Physical address, 
  • Telephone number, 
  • Information relating to health, criminal behaviour, 
  • Views of the person, 
  • Views about the person and many more. 

In short, any information which links to a person and makes them identifiable is considered as personal information. 

With POPIA coming into effect from 1July 2021 The Data Company will ensure that any personal information is processed lawfully and in accordance with the new Act.