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Privacy Glossary · Definition

Shadow Profile

A profile a company or broker builds about a person who never created an account or knowingly shared data with it.

Full definition

A shadow profile is a profile an entity may compile about someone who has not opened an account or knowingly given information directly to that entity. It can be assembled from contact lists, public records, third-party data, tracking signals, or other sources. Some people-search and marketing databases include records for people who never signed up, but the source, scope, and legal treatment vary by provider and jurisdiction.

Related terms

Identity Resolution

The process of stitching together disparate records and identifiers to determine they all refer to the same person.

Data Broker

A company that collects personal information about consumers and sells, licenses, or shares that information with third parties.

Digital Footprint

The trail of data an individual generates through online activity, public records, and commercial transactions.

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