Who is referred to as a data subject?

A data subject is defined as an identifiable individual whose personal data is being processed. This concept is central to data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which gives individuals rights regarding their personal data. The focus on 'identifiable individual' emphasizes that the data subject must be a living person whose identity can be determined directly or indirectly from the data being processed. This underscores the importance of personal data privacy and the protections that individuals have regarding their information.

In contrast, other options include entities that either manage or oversee data (like organizations or supervisory authorities), but they do not represent the individuals whose data is being collected and processed. Therefore, the terminology specifically distinguishes the rights and protections afforded to individuals, making the identification of a data subject crucial in discussions of data privacy and protection practices.