(a) Definition. The term linked means associated.

(b) Examples—(1) Example 1. A U.S. person transfers two listed identifiers in a single spreadsheet—such as a list of names of individuals and associated MAC addresses for those individuals' devices. The names and MAC addresses would be considered linked.

(2) Example 2. A U.S. person transfers two listed identifiers in different spreadsheets—such as a list of names of individuals in one spreadsheet and MAC addresses in another spreadsheet—to two related parties in two different covered data transactions. The names and MAC addresses would be considered linked, provided that some correlation existed between the names and MAC addresses (e.g., associated employee ID number is also listed in both spreadsheets).

(3) Example 3. A U.S. person transfers a standalone list of MAC addresses, without any additional listed identifiers. The standalone list does not include covered personal identifiers. That standalone list of MAC addresses would not become covered personal identifiers even if the receiving party is capable of obtaining separate sets of other listed identifiers or sensitive personal data through separate covered data transactions with unaffiliated parties that would ultimately permit the association of the MAC addresses to specific persons. The MAC addresses would not be considered linked or linkable to those separate sets of other listed identifiers or sensitive personal data.