Personally Identifiable Information

Part of: Impact of Computing

What Counts as PII Personally identifiable information (PII) is data that can identify a specific individual, on its own or combined with other data. Examples include full name, address, Social Security number, phone number, email, biometric data, and location history. The AP framework stresses that PII can be exploited if it falls into the wrong hands. How PII Spreads - Directly : you type it into forms and profiles. - Indirectly : apps collect device IDs, search history, and location in the background. - By combination : seemingly harmless data points can be linked to re-identify a person even after a name is removed. That last point matters: removing an obvious identifier does not guarantee anonymity, because combinations of fields (ZIP code + birthdate + gender) can still pinpoint someone. Risks and Protections Leaked PII enables identity theft, stalking, and targeted scams. Sensible protections include sharing the minimum necessary data, using privacy settings, and being skeptical of apps that request more than they need. Key Takeaways - PII is any data that can identify an individual, alone or combined. - Data can be collected directly, indirectly, or by combination . - Remov

Challenge: PII Filter