What is “Personally Identifiable Information (PII)"?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is information about an individual that identifies, links, relates, or is unique to, or describes them. Examples include information which can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity (such as social security number, date and place of birth, mother's maiden name, biometric records, or any other personal information which is linked or linkable to a specific individual). Since computer technology has made it possible to store, retrieve, and manipulate data quickly and efficiently, additional safeguards are needed to ensure that personal data contained in IT systems are protected from unauthorized and illegal use.