Selectively optically readable data carrier

A method for producing a data carrier, comprising:

• providing a storage layer which has at least one optical property that is anisotropically variable under the influence of light;
• storing data in the storage layer by exposing first surface elements of the storage layer to polarized writing light, wherein said optical property is varied according to the data to be stored such that the optical property varies spatially between the first surface elements and is optically anisotropic at least in part of the first surface elements, wherein the spatial variation of the optical property between the first surface elements for a first polarization direction of the writing light defines a first data set that is readable using light having the first polarization direction, but is not readable using light having at least one further polarization direction;
• and
• producing a transparent or translucent cover layer on the storage layer, wherein the cover layer has a plurality of second surface elements acting as polarization filters for a predetermined polarization direction, with the second surface elements being arranged above the first surface elements, and wherein the predetermined polarization direction spatially varies between the second surface elements such that part of the first data set is masked by the cover layer.