What type of information does PII typically represent?

PII, or Personally Identifiable Information, specifically refers to demographic and personal information that can be used to identify an individual. This includes data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and other details that uniquely pinpoint a person. The importance of PII lies in its sensitivity; unauthorized access or exposure can lead to identity theft or privacy violations.

While medical history, health insurance details, and financial records do contain sensitive information, they are not classified as PII by themselves. Rather, they are aspects of personal information that may also contain PII elements when linked to an individual. Thus, the breadth of PII encompasses a wider array of identifiable information, making the understanding of its definition crucial in contexts of data protection and privacy regulations.