Techniques for identity data characterization for data protection

Certain aspects involve a system, computer-implemented method, and computer-readable medium for identifying attributes associated with a target entity such as a person. A hierarchical characterization system receives an attribute and a request for associated identity data. The system generates an identity graph that includes attribute nodes corresponding to respective attributes and online interaction nodes corresponding to respective online interactions. The system correlates at least a subset of the online interactions and at least a subset of the attributes with a particular entity. The system generates a report indicating an identity of the entity and a behavior of the entity based on the correlated online interactions and the correlated attributes.