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PII (Personally Identifiable Information)

Privacy

Data Leak Identity Theft Data Broker Personal Data

Common term for identifiers that can single out a person; scope differs by jurisdiction and context.

Definition

PII refers to information that can identify an individual, especially direct identifiers (name, email, SSN) and sometimes indirect identifiers when combined. In many privacy frameworks, the broader concept is “personal data.”

In plain English Common term for identifiers that can single out a person; scope differs by jurisdiction and context.

Why this matters

Why it matters: PII enables re-identification and targeted harm; strong protection and minimization are essential.

Example

Example: Protect PII with access controls, encryption, and strict retention; avoid storing unnecessary identifiers.