← Years 5–6 Digital Systems

Personal data

Information that identifies or relates to a specific person, like their name, birthday, address, photos or location. It needs protecting because it is stored in online accounts.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Digital Systems & Security — Module 38, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Staying Safe Online — Module 3, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 7, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Networks and Cyber Threats — Module 1, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 1

Understanding Personal data in Years 5–6 Digital Systems

What it does: Both the name and the birthday relate to one specific person, so they are personal data. Online accounts store details like your name, birthday and photos, which is why account security matters. If personal data falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to pretend to be you or to find you. Sharing less personal data lowers the risk of it being misused.

Common mistakes: The string for the name is missing its closing quote. It should be name = "Mia". There is a comma missing between the two items in print(). It should be print("Address:", address).

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 31–40) and word search (Modules 21–52).

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Learning
Duo
Which of these is an example of personal data?
The colour of the sky todayYour full name and birthday
Matches
post("My address is 4 Oak St and my birthday is 12 May")
↓
Sharing an address and birthday publicly puts personal data at risk. Keep this information private.
Applying
Meanings
Term
personal data
Meaning
Information that identifies or relates to a specific person, like their name, birthday, address, photos or location. It needs protecting because it is stored in online accounts.
Practice
Personal data is information about a person.
Testing
Gaps
= ["name", "address"]
Check Answer
Spots
1name = "Mia
2birthday = "4 May"

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Quick Questions

1. Which of these is an example of personal data?
A. Your full name and birthday ✓
B. The colour of the sky today
Personal data is information that identifies or relates to a specific person. A name and a birthday both relate to you.
2. True or false: Your home address is personal data.
A. False
B. True ✓
An address shows where a specific person lives, so it is personal data and should be shared carefully.
3. A photo of you in your school uniform is...
A. Personal data, because it shows who you are and maybe where you go ✓
B. Not personal data, because it is just a picture
Photos can identify you and may reveal your location or school, so they count as personal data.
4. Which piece of information tells someone where you are right now?
A. Your location ✓
B. Your favourite number
Location data relates to a specific person and shows where they are, so it needs protecting.
5. When you create an online account, where is your personal data usually kept?
A. Deleted as soon as you sign up
B. Stored in the account by the company or service ✓
Online accounts store details like your name, birthday and photos, which is why account security matters.

Match the Pairs

personal data → Information that identifies or relates to a specific person, like their name or birthday
location = "Geelong, Victoria" → A piece of personal data showing where a person is or lives
A name and a birthday are personal data because they identify a specific person → name = "Mia Chen"; birthday = "12 May 2013"
Personal data stored in an online account needs protecting so others cannot misuse it → account = {"name": "Mia", "photo": "mia.jpg", "address": "4 Oak St"}
post("My address is 4 Oak St and my birthday is 12 May") → Sharing an address and birthday publicly puts personal data at risk. Keep this information private.
photo = "mia_school.jpg" # not personal data, share it with anyone → A photo that shows a person or their location is personal data, so it should not be treated as harmless.

Key Term

personal data
Information that identifies or relates to a specific person, like their name, birthday, address, photos or location. It needs protecting because it is stored in online accounts.

Fill in the Blanks

1. personal_data = ["name", "address"]
Hint: Type the variable name for the list of information that identifies a person
2. print("Birthday is personal data")
Hint: Type the function name that shows a value on the screen
3. account = {"name": "Sam", "city": "Perth"} print(account["city"])
Hint: Type the variable name that holds the data stored in the online account
4. if location_on: print("Location is shared")
Hint: Type the keyword that makes a decision based on a condition
5. print(not False)
Hint: Type the keyword that reverses a True or False value

Spot the Error

Question 1
A name = "Mia
B birthday = "4 May"
C print("Name:", name)
Line A — The string for the name is missing its closing quote. It should be name = "Mia".
Question 2
A name = "Sam"
B address = "5 Oak St"
C print("Address:" address)
Line C — There is a comma missing between the two items in print(). It should be print("Address:", address).
Question 3
A account = {}
B account["name"] = "Lee"
C account["photo"] == "lee.jpg"
D print(account)
Line C — == compares values, so the photo is never stored in the online account. Use = to store it: account["photo"] = "lee.jpg".
Question 4
A location = "Perth"
B is_personal = True
C if is_personal:
D prnt("Keep it private")
Line D — The function name is misspelled as prnt, so Python does not know it. It should be print("Keep it private").
Question 5
A birthday = "4 May"
B share_online = False
C if share_online = True:
D print("Sharing", birthday)
Line C — A single = assigns a value. An if statement needs == to compare: if share_online == True:.

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