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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryPrivacy & IdentityPseudonymization

Privacy & Identity

Pseudonymization

Replacing direct identifiers with codes or tokens so data cannot be linked to a person without separately held information; still personal data under GDPR.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Pseudonymization is replacing direct identifiers, such as names or emails, with codes or tokens so data cannot be linked to a person without separately held information. It reduces risk and is encouraged under GDPR, but pseudonymized data remains personal data under that law because re-identification is still possible.