What type of data is considered public information?

Census data is considered public information because it is collected by governmental agencies and is intended to provide demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the population. This data is aggregated and anonymized to ensure respondent privacy, making it accessible to researchers, policymakers, and the general public. It serves as a valuable resource for understanding trends in various areas such as population growth, housing, and employment.

In contrast, personal health records, credit histories, and employee evaluations contain sensitive information that is protected by privacy laws and regulations. Personal health records are confidential and governed by regulations like HIPAA, which safeguards individual health information. Credit histories are also private, as they pertain to an individual's financial status and behavior, regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Employee evaluations are typically internal company documents that assess individual performance and are not shared publicly for privacy and competitive reasons. Therefore, they do not qualify as public information.