Abstract: The concept of personal information is the essential question in the legislation of personal information protection. There exist three basic theories for the defination of personal information, including identification, linkage as well as context. This article analyzes the legal practice both in domestic law and overseas legislations, and suggests to establish the concept of personal information on the basis of identification theory in the coming Chinese personal information preotection law.

Key words: defination of personal infromation, theory of indentification, theory of linkage