Personal domain for a virtual assistant system on a communal device

One embodiment provides a data processing system on a communal electronic device, the data processing system comprising a memory device to store instructions and one or more processors to execute the instructions stored on the memory device. The instructions cause the one or more processors to provide a virtual assistant to receive commands at the communal electronic device, where the virtual assistant, via the one or more processors, is configured to receive a command at the communal electronic device and determine whether the command is to access personal data of a user associated with the communal electronic device. Personal data of the user includes data that is specific to the user. In response to a determination that the command is to access personal data of the user, the virtual assistant can send a request to a personal electronic device of the user to process at least a portion of the command.