media access control

ARE MAC ADDRESSES PERSONAL DATA?

A media access control (MAC) address of a computer is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications at the data link layer of a network segment.

On page 11, paragraph 2, the WP29 states "it should be noted that these MAC addresses are personal data, even after security measures such as hashing have been undertaken."

The CJEU's judgment, in C-582/14 Breyer, refers to dynamically assigned IP addresses. Given MAC addresses can be mimicked or changed, it may seem odd that they are considered personal data. However, there are very good reasons WP29 state MAC addresses should be regarded as personal data:

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