OneTrust Certified Privacy Professional Practice Exam 2026 - Free Privacy Professional Practice Questions and Study Guide

A 'data subject' is defined as a natural person whose personal data is processed. This definition is central to various data protection regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other similar laws worldwide. The significance of this definition lies in the protections afforded to individuals regarding their personal information.

Data subjects have specific rights under these regulations, including the right to access their data, the right to rectification, and the right to erase their data. The focus is on the individual, acknowledging their autonomy and recognizing that personal data belongs to them. This personal connection is crucial for ensuring that data processing activities are conducted ethically and transparently.

In contrast, other options represent entities or roles that do not qualify as data subjects. Organizations processing data are referred to as data controllers or processors, while third parties accessing data are recognized as data processors or external entities rather than subjects of the data themselves. Meanwhile, a data protection officer is a specialized role intended to ensure compliance with data protection regulations and does not represent a natural person whose personal data is being processed. Thus, the key distinction lies in the direct reference to natural persons, making option B the accurate definition of a data subject.