Understanding PII: What Information is Considered Personally Identifiable?

Understanding PII: What Information is Considered Personally Identifiable?

In today’s world, personal data is a valuable asset that companies, governments, and other organizations collect for various reasons. This data can range from general information like your name and email address to more sensitive information such as your social security number or medical records. Collectively, this data is known as personally identifiable information (PII). Understanding what information is considered PII is important as it helps you protect your privacy and prevent identity theft.

What is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?

PII is any data that can be used to identify an individual. This includes both direct and indirect identifiers such as:

Direct Identifiers

Direct identifiers are pieces of information that can directly and uniquely identify a specific individual. Examples include:

– Full name
– Social Security number
– Passport number
– National ID number
– Driver’s license number
– Email address
– Postal address
– Telephone number
– Biometric data (fingerprints, face recognition, DNA)

Indirect Identifiers

Indirect identifiers do not directly identify a specific individual. Instead, they may be combined with other information to identify an individual. Examples include:

– Date of birth
– Gender
– City of birth
– Mother’s maiden name
– Education history
– Employment history
– IP address
– Device ID
– Cookies

Why is PII Important?

Protecting PII is important for several reasons, including:

1. Preventing identity theft: Cybercriminals use PII to commit identity theft, a crime that can cause significant damage to an individual’s financial and personal life.

2. Protecting privacy: PII can be used to create a profile of an individual’s activities and preferences, which is generally considered private.

3. Complying with regulations: Governments have established regulations for safeguarding PII collected by organizations. Non-compliance can result in monetary fines, legal action, or reputational damage.

Examples of PII misuse

There are many examples of PII misuse that highlight the importance of protecting personal data.

In 2017, credit bureau Equifax suffered a data breach that exposed PII of approximately 147 million people. Cybercriminals gained access to sensitive information like names, social security numbers, birthdates, and addresses.

Another example is Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm that harvested PII from millions of Facebook users without their knowledge or consent, and used the data to influence the U.S. presidential election.

Conclusion

Personally identifiable information is any data that can be used to identify an individual. Protecting PII is important as it helps you safeguard your personal privacy and prevent identity theft. It is essential to be aware of what information is considered PII and how it can be misused. By understanding these risks, we can ensure we protect our personal information and maintain control over our digital footprint.