Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any piece of information that can be used to distinguish or identify an individual. It includes data elements such as full name, social security number, driver’s license number, passport number, date of birth, address, telephone number, email address, and any other information that is linked or linkable to a specific person. PII can be obtained through various sources, such as online activities, forms, surveys, transactions, employment records, and financial information.

The protection of PII is crucial in order to safeguard individuals’ privacy, prevent identity theft, and comply with data protection regulations. Organizations are typically required to implement security measures, such as encryption, access controls, data anonymization, and secure storage, to protect PII from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Proper handling and disposal of PII is necessary to reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure the privacy and security of individuals’ personal information.