Data refers to facts or statistics compiled for reference and analysis. They can take the form of numbers, text or both; simple examples could include counting sales of certain products, taking an electricity meter reading or recording employees names; more complex measures may include showing product sales by region or profitability of services provided.
First and foremost, it’s crucial that data collection serves a clear purpose. A dataset will only add value when easily accessible to users and can be utilized for multiple uses; additionally, its format must allow easy reading and interpretation by its recipients. Complement your datasets with other data sources such as government demographic or economic figures or weather information from different organisations for more context.
Importantly, any collection of personal data must be lawful. According to the PDPO definition of personal data as being information that relates to an identifiable natural person who can be directly or indirectly identified using means such as name; identification number; location data; online identifier or factors specific to physical, physiological, genetic mental cultural and social identities of that individual – in line with international norms as well as those used by privacy regimes like GDPR which applies in Europe.
Finally, the PDPO requires data users to notify data subjects at or prior to collecting their personal data of its purpose and any classes of persons with whom it will be shared. This obligation will be fulfilled if a PICS (“Personal Information Collection Statement”) is issued prior to collecting his/her information.