What does aggregated data mean?
Definition
Aggregated data is information combined from many individual records into totals, averages or counts, so it describes a group instead of a single person.
- Category
- Data
- Also called
- aggregate data, data aggregation
- Last updated
NIST describes aggregation as the consolidation of similar or related information. Aggregated data is the result: lots of separate records rolled up into a summary. A shop that logs 4,000 card payments and reports "average basket: $38" is working with aggregated data. The report says nothing about any one customer.
An example
A fitness app collects step counts from a million phones. Instead of publishing each person's daily steps, it reports that people in one city averaged 7,200 steps a day in March. The individual records sit behind the summary, and the summary shows only the group.
Why it matters to you
Companies often say they share only "aggregated" or "anonymized" data. That can be a fair description, but it doesn't guarantee your privacy. Aggregation works best when each group is large. If a summary covers a tiny group, say 3 people at one workplace, someone may be able to work out who the numbers describe, especially if they can combine them with other data. Whether a summary is safe depends on how it was built.
Aggregated data also isn't the same as data that was aggregated about you. Some data brokers collect records from many sources and combine them into one profile of a single person. That is also called data aggregation, but the output is the opposite of a group summary: it points at you.
Aggregated data vs. related terms
- Anonymized data has identifying details removed. Aggregated data can be anonymous, but isn't always.
- Personal data relates to an identifiable person. A group average usually doesn't, unless the group is small enough to single someone out.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Read what 'aggregated' means in a privacy policy
Look for who receives the data, how large the groups are, and whether the company says it can link the summaries back to accounts.
- 2
Opt out of optional data sharing
Turn off analytics, personalised ads and 'help improve the product' toggles in the apps and accounts you use most.
- 3
Watch for profiles built about you
Combined personal profiles are the risky kind of aggregation. Serus finds where your address and phone number are listed and removes them.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
Is aggregated data anonymous?
Not automatically. Large, well-built summaries usually don't point to anyone, but small groups or summaries combined with other data can sometimes be traced back to a person.
What is an example of aggregated data?
An average, a total or a count: average household income in a postcode, the number of visitors to a website last month, or the share of customers who chose a product.
Is aggregated data personal data?
Usually not, because it describes a group. It can become personal data if someone can use it to identify an individual, so the size of the group matters.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.